Piper PA-22-160 accident near Clarksburg, California, May 15, 1998
On May 15, 1998 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N198TP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarksburg, California (Borges-Clarksburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined non-mechanical reasons. A contributing factor in the landing nose-over was the presence of the soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1998 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Clarksburg, California · Borges-Clarksburg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N198TP · registry record · serial 22-5625
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that prior to taking off for the planned 10-minute-long flight both fuel tanks contained over 5 gallons of fuel, and all airplane systems were functioning normally. The pilot arrived at his destination airport and entered the traffic pattern. Carburetor heat was applied, the throttle was retarded, and the airplane descended. After turning onto the base leg the pilot moved the throttle forward to increase engine power, and the engine 'blubbered and totally lost power.' Unable to glide to the runway, the pilot made a forced landing in a soft field adjacent to the airport, and the airplane nosed over. The FAA coordinator responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The FAA reported it examined the powerplant, induction system, engine controls, and magnetos. The ignition switch and the carburetor were also functionally examined. No evidence was found of any mechanical malfunctions. The reason for the interruption of engine power was not determined.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,779 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1998; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA
- Destination: C14
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,335 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX98LA157.