Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Apple Valley, California, October 12, 1998
On October 12, 1998 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N4316L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apple Valley, California (Holiday Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent use of the aircraft's brakes while using the rudder pedals to maintain directional alignment during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1998 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · Holiday Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4316L · no longer on the register · serial 32R-8329036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was picking up two pilots who ferried an aircraft to the paint shop. The aircraft was towed to the departure end of the runway and takeoff checks were completed. The aircraft failed to accelerate normally but the pilot attributed this to either the sand and dirt runway, or the turbocharger lagging. He stated he did not put his heels on the floor and must have inadvertently maintained some brake pressure as he used the rudder to maintain directional alignment. The aircraft passed over a depression in the runway and became airborne momentarily. It settled back to the runway and bounced over a fence. It contacted a tree and the right wing separated at the wing root. The aircraft traveled another 50 feet before coming to rest. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical discrepancies with the aircraft.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 583 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 583 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1998; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,900 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from DAG, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.