Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Agoura Hills, California, March 11, 2011
On March 11, 2011 at about 2:13 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N75224, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Agoura Hills, California. 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
The loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2011 · about 2:13 am local time
- Place
- Agoura Hills, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N75224 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7635285
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that following an uneventful flight that consisted of various flight maneuvers and simulated engine out procedures, the pilot receiving instruction was told to return to the departure airport. Upon reaching cruise flight, the engine began to run rough with a consistent light vibration. The CFI stated that he attempted to correct the engine condition; however, he was unable and initiated a forced landing to a landfill. During the approach to landing, the left wing struck a sand pile and the airplane subsequently veered to the left and landed hard. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing was separated from the fuselage. Fuel was present in both the left and right fuel tanks. Using an alternate fuel source attached to the right wing fuel inlet line, the recovered engine was successfully run at various power settings for about eight minutes. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the recovered engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. The cause of the loss 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 1,444 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,340 as pilot in command; 1,070 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 6, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 134 in the last 30 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 25, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2010; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Justice Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from VNY, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.