Piper PA-28-180 accident near French Valley, California, September 14, 2012
On September 14, 2012 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7971W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near French Valley, California (French Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during a go-around following a sudden change in wind direction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2012 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- French Valley, California · French Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7971W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane drifted across the runway centerline during the final approach, and the pilot applied corrective control input. A gusting crosswind and high temperatures were present, and, as such, he continued the approach with the flaps retracted. He corrected for the wind by lowering the left wing, and applying right rudder control. During the flare, the wind direction shifted to a quartering tailwind, and the airplane veered to the right. Unable to keep the airplane over the runway, the pilot applied full engine power and initiated a go-around. The engine responded, but the airplane did not climb as expected, and its main landing gear made contact with the vertical stabilizer of an airplane on the taxiway. The airplane subsequently settled and landed in the adjacent parking apron, where it collided with five parked airplanes. The accident airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged, and all five parked airplanes also sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,858 hours in all; 715 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 24, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,842 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 2012; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM San Diego CA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: F70 French Valley CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 18, 6,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from KRIV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| 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.