Piper PA28 - 161 accident near Lancaster, California, September 21, 2013
On September 21, 2013 at about 4:49 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA28 - 161, registered N6313C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lancaster, California (General Willam J Fox Airfield). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2013 · about 4:49 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · General Willam J Fox Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 - 161 161, built 1978 · all PA28 - 161s on the register
- Registration
- N6313C · registry record · serial L-18785-39A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after landing the airplane pulled to the left, which he was not able to immediately recover from. The airplane continued to the left and impacted a taxiway sign with the right wing, substantially damaging the wing spar. After applying right rudder he was able to get the airplane tracking in the right direction, but the right main landing gear collapsed just after hitting the sign, which resulted in the airplane ground-looping to the right. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,542 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 2013; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 3,603 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: IYK Inyokern CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 7,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from WJF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.