Piper PA-28-140 accident near Moreno Valley, California, March 22, 1996
On March 22, 1996 at about 8:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N17D, was destroyed in an accident near Moreno Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
VFR flight by the noninstrument-rated pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The terrain and adverse weather conditions were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1996 · about 8:41 pm local time
- Place
- Moreno Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N17D · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325367
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident site was in an area of mountainous terrain. Impact occurred on the side of a 3,100 foot mountain at an elevation of about 2000 feet. Witnesses said the aircraft made several steep turns, as well as several climbs and descents as it was flying in and out of the clouds. It was last observed heading in the direction of the accident site. The aircraft wings rocked from side to side just before reentering the clouds. A few seconds later, the witnesses heard the sound of the aircraft striking terrain. After impact, there were no further engine sounds. The base of a cloud layer obscured the accident site and top of the mountain. The pilot obtained a weather briefing before departure, and he was advised that an AIRMET was in effect concerning mountain obscuration in clouds, fog and precipitation, and for occasional moderate turbulence below 15,000 feet. The pilot possessed an FAA commercial certificate, which was based on a Swiss commercial certificate, but no record of an instrument rating was found.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,540 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1996; 501 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 8:21 pm
- Destination: DVT Deer Valley AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from RAL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.