Piper PA 28-180 accident near Quincy, California, June 15, 2014
On June 15, 2014 at about 6:10 pm local time, a 1967 Piper PA 28-180, registered N4931L, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Quincy, California (Ganser Field 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 partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to the separation of the exhaust baffling, which resulted in a partial blockage of airflow to the engine. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the exhaust system during the airplane’s most recent maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2014 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Quincy, California · Ganser Field 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, built 1967 · all PA 28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4931L · registry record · serial 28-4299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane would not climb; therefore, he chose to make a precautionary landing onto a nearby field. During the final approach, the stabilator impacted a fence post, and the pilot subsequently landed the airplane uneventfully. During a postaccident examination of the exhaust system, the baffles within the muffler assembly were found partially separated and blocking the exhaust ducts, which would have restricted the airflow in the ducts and resulted in a loss of engine power when the airplane reached a higher engine rpm setting during takeoff. No additional mechanical anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane manufacturer's service manual states, in part, "a very thorough inspection of the entire exhaust system, including the…muffler and muffler baffles, stacks, and all exhaust connections and welds must be accomplished at each 100-hour inspection. The possibility of exhaust system failure increases with use." The airplane's most recent annual inspection, which should have included the items from the 100-hour inspection, occurred about 3 flight hours before the accident. Maintenance records indicated that maintenance personnel inspected the exterior of the muffler system; however, the records did not indicate that maintenance personnel performed the airplane manufacturer-recommended exhaust system inspection.
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 initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Failure
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,370 hours in all; 1,065 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,173 as pilot in command; 174 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 13, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,016 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2014; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SERIES (piston); 1,969 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2O1 Quincy CA at 6:10 pm
- Destination: 2O1 Quincy CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,105 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 pm from CIC, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.