Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Baker, California, July 23, 1998
On July 23, 1998 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N222LC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baker, California (Baker airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1998 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Baker, California · Baker · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N222LC · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7635155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to the destination airport, the pilot noted the fuel flow gage was fluctuating and the engine began to run roughly. He switched to the backup electric fuel pump and the engine smoothed out. Shortly thereafter, the fuel flow gage again provided an intermittent reading. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing at an alternate airport and overflew the field to check the windsock for wind direction. He reported that right at touchdown he noted a wind change to a tailwind and decided to abort the landing. He applied full power, but the engine did not respond. The airplane was landed straight ahead, overran the runway, and struck an elevated road. The pilot reported that prior to the flight, on the day of the accident, the airplane had been refueled. After fueling, he conducted a run-up and noted that the engine was sputtering. He taxied to a maintenance facility and asked them to inspect the aircraft. The maintenance facility found that the fuel injector nozzles were dirty. They cleaned and reinstalled them. The pilot conducted another run-up with no discrepancies noted and departed the airport. A postaccident engine test run and inspection were conducted with no anomalies noted. The fuel system was inspected, to include the fuel servo unit, with no discrepancies 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1998; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: L15 Henderson NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,157 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Observation at 5:51 pm from DAG, 86 miles away
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.
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.