Piper PA-28 accident near Mulino, Oregon, August 19, 1989
On August 19, 1989 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N7358J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mulino, Oregon (Mulino airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND ROUTING OF THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE AND/OR ELECTRICAL WIRING, DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN MECHANICAL BINDING OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL COLUMN. THE FENCE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1989 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mulino, Oregon · Mulino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N7358J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24710
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PVT PLT APPLIED BACK PRESSURE FOR LIFT-OFF, BUT THE CONTROL COLUMN WAS RESTRICTED FROM MOVING AFT. AS THE ACFT NEARED THE END OF THE RWY, BOTH PLTS PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL WHEEL ENOUGH TO GET THE ACFT AIRBORNE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET THE ACFT TO CLIMB. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH THE ARPT BOUNDRY FENCE & CRASHED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE TO THE FUEL GAGE HAD BEEN RUBBING ON THE RIGHT CONTROL WHEEL SPROCKET, & AVIONICS WIRING WAS FOUND IN & AROUND THE CONTROL COLUMN AREA.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 945 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 869 as pilot in command; 348 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,799 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1989; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mulino Air Center
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,100 ft by 300 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.