Piper PA-28-180 accident near Rosamond, California, June 1, 2007
On June 1, 2007 at about 2:29 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N5231L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rosamond, California (Rosamond Skypark Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff due to lack of airplane climb performance, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2007 · about 2:29 am local time
- Place
- Rosamond, California · Rosamond Skypark Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5231L · no longer on the register · serial 28-4525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the airplane collided with terrain off the end of the runway. The pilot reported that the run up checks were all acceptable. When the airplane was approximately 1,200 feet down the 3,600-foot runway, it lifted 5 feet above the runway but would not climb. The airplane drifted to the right while the pilot was checking the control settings and the pilot noted that the airplane was nearing the end of the runway. The pilot applied additional backpressure on the yoke and climbed to 15 feet above ground level. The airplane cleared the fence and then settled in the soft, sandy soil. As the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear dug into the soft sand and the airplane was jerked to the right, suddenly stopping. The pilot reported that he did not notice any change in engine sound during the takeoff. The estimated weight of the airplane was 100 pounds below its maximum gross weight. The density altitude at the time of the accident was about 4,000 feet mean sea level.
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: 128 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 58 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,968 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2007; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L00 Rosamond CA at 2:25 am
- Destination: AJO Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 am from WJF, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.