Piper PA28 accident near Santa Ana, California, December 23, 2018
On December 23, 2018, a 1972 Piper PA28, registered N15321, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne Airport). 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
A total loss of engine power due to a loose carburetor bowl.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2018
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1972 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N15321 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff on the instructional flight, the engine lost total power. The flight instructor took the airplane controls and returned to the airport for a forced landing, during which the airplane landed hard on a taxiway, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination revealed that the carburetor bowl was loose and displayed evidence of a fuel leak. The leak likely resulted in fuel flow irregularities and the loss of engine power. Although service bulletins had been published by both the carburetor and engine manufacturer to address this issue, there was no evidence to suggest that the accident airplane had undergone the inspections specified by the service bulletins.
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 (total) during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Damaged/degraded
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 770 hours in all; 425 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 620 as pilot in command; 99 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 25, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 19, 2017; 42.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 1,567 hours total
- Operator: Trc Holdings
The flight
- Departed from: KSNA Santa Ana CA at 11:10 pm
- Destination: KSNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2R, 2,887 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 21,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.