Piper PA-32-300 accident near Del Mar, California, August 24, 2021
On August 24, 2021 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1972 Piper PA-32-300, registered N2843T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Del Mar, California (Montgomery-Gibbs Exec airport). It was a personal 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
The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a forced landing on an interstate highway and subsequent collision with vehicles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2021 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Del Mar, California · Montgomery-Gibbs Exec · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300, built 1972 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N2843T · no longer on the register · serial 32-7240094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had just received an annual inspection, and the pilot and the flight instructor were flying it back to its home base. The pilot did not have a current medical certificate, and the flight instructor was on board to act as pilot in command. On departure in a slow climb passing about 1,800 ft mean sea level, the engine began to surge and sounded like “the throttle was cycling between open and closed.” The airplane began to lose altitude. The flight instructor declared an emergency and turned toward a racetrack. They flew a downwind for the racetrack but determined they could not safely land there. Therefore, they elected to land on an interstate highway. Spotting a gap between cars, the flight instructor made a forced landing on the interstate. During the landing sequence, the airplane struck several vehicles and came to rest angled toward the interstate median barrier. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,118 hours in all; 797 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 986 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,697 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 11.5 in the last 90 days; 2.5 in the last 30 days; 3,523 as pilot in command; 2,733 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 18, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 5,095 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CRQ Carlsbad CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from KSAN, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSAN 241851Z 30009KT 10SM CLR 25/16 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP140 T02500161 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on February 28, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airframe and Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Monitor Data Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Attachment 1 - Accident Flight Data | data file | Download |
| 6 | Attachment 2 - Previous Flight | data file | Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.