Piper PA-24-260 accident near Fullerton, California, August 8, 2023
On August 8, 2023 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1965 Piper PA-24-260, registered N503JA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Fullerton, California (Fullerton Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the stabilator actuator from the stabilator tab, which resulted in pitch control surface flutter and structural damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2023 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260, built 1965 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N503JA · registry record · serial 24-4165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff the airplane began to shake violently with the control yoke moving rapidly forward and aft from stop to stop. The pilot was able to perform an on-airport emergency landing after shutting down the engine, but sustained hand injuries due to the extreme control forces and oscillations. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the stabilator structure in a manner consistent with it exhibiting aerodynamic flutter. Postaccident examination revealed that the stabilator tab actuator was disconnected from the control tab, and the bolt, nut, and washer that connected them were missing. The disconnection of the actuator allowed the tab surface to uncouple, which resulted in flutter and structural damage to the stabilator. Circumferential scoring around the bolt hole within the tabs indicated that the bolt was likely loose for an undetermined period before failure. The nut had likely not been replaced since the airplane was manufactured almost 60 years before the accident, so its locking properties would have been significantly diminished.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Aircraft structural failure during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator tab control system › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator tab control system › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator tab control system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,441.6 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,351.8 as pilot in command; 117.1 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,849.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2023; 5.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 3,849 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: POC La Verne CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KFUL
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFUL 082253Z 19007KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP145 T02890167=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 20, 2024. 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Factual Examination Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Stabilator Trim Parts Catalog Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | 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.