Piper PA 25-235 accident near Warner Springs, California, September 6, 2014
On September 6, 2014 at about 7:02 pm local time, a 1964 Piper PA 25-235, registered N7117Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Warner Springs, California (Warner Springs airport). It was a glider-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The glider pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb while being towed, which led to the tow plane's unstable flight and its subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the tow pilot's delayed release of the glider.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2014 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · Warner Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 25-235, built 1964 · all PA 25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N7117Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-2914
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tow plane had already launched a series of gliders without incident just before the accident. Downwind departure operations were in effect due to wind conditions and the local topography; the glider pilot had been briefed on the departure procedures earlier in the day and had experience flying the departure. For the accident flight, the glider was moved into position, and the glider pilot indicated his intentions via hand signals. Shortly after takeoff, the glider moved out of position. The glider pilot made corrective control inputs as the flight progressed in the traffic pattern; however, he was unable to establish positive control. The glider violently yanked and pulled the tow plane into unusual attitudes throughout the departure, and a positive rate of climb could not be established. The glider pilot continued to encounter control difficulties consistent with pilot-induced oscillations, and the tow line became slack as the glider gained on the tow plane. The tow plane pilot thought the glider had released, and a few seconds later, as the line went taught, the tow plane was forced into an aerodynamic stall. Both pilots simultaneously released the tow line, and, with minimal altitude remaining for recovery, the tow plane crashed in a field just beyond the runway. The glider returned to the airport and landed without incident.
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
- Glider tow event during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,307 hours in all; 264 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 5,190 as pilot in command; 1,661 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 25, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,651 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 2014; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 2,543 hours total
- Operator: Sky Sailing INC
The flight
- Departed from: CL35 Warner Springs CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: CL35 Warner Springs CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,500 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:00 pm from CL35
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.