# Accident 19890127001329A: Piper PA32300, Gualala, CA, January 27, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 27, 1989, 10:00 local time
- Place: Gualala, CA
- Airport: Ocean Ridge Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8199° N, 123.5100° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8199&lon=-123.5100&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4235R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4235R-1993-09-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1A5
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 660 total, 268 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX89LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA100) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890127001329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CRASH LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. PILOT ERROR AND MISJUDGEMENT APPEAR TO BE FACTORS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX89LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA100), Jan 27, 1989: Piper PA-32-300 (N4235R), Gualala, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT MISJUDGED THE ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.

## Other reports on N4235R (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19830327009939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830327009939A), Mar 27, 1983: Piper PA32300 (N4235R), Gorman, CA, Substantial damage. After descending to check location, aircraft hit powerline then crashed attempting emergency landing on highway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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