# Incident 19990303012529I: Piper PA44180, Thermal, CA, March 3, 1999

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 1999, 17:36 local time
- Place: Thermal, CA
- Airport: Thermal Airport
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6262° N, 116.1308° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Thermal, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6262&lon=-116.1308&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2088K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2088K-2026-05-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA44180
- Reported engine: LYC O320C1B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,900 total, 101 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990303012529I

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 3,1999 THE PILOT REPORTED LEAVING CARLSBAD AIRPORT (CFQ) IFR ENROUTE TO ELPASCO, TX (ELP). DURING CLIMB OUT FROM CARLSBAD HE SAID THAT HE HEARD A INTERMITTENT NOISE IN THE AIRCRAFT AIRFRAME. HE CONTINUED ENROUTE IFR TO JULIAN VOR, AT WHICH TIME HE DECIDED TO CANCEL IFR AND THEN THE AIRCRAFT MADE A UNCONTROLLED PITCH UP WITHOUT ANY PILOT CONTROL INPUT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER BUT AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE.THE PILOT REPORTED TO LA CENTER THE EMERGENCY AND TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD BORREGO SPRINGS, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE TO APPROXIMATELY 5,500 FEET AND THEN THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD REGIANED PARTIAL FLIGHT CONTROL. HE THEN SELECTED THERMAL AIRPORT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. THE PILOT HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE AIRCRAFT BUT COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS FROM THERMAL, CA. TO PENSCOLA,FLORIDA. THE AIRCRAFT IS BEING INSPECTED FOR A 50 HOUR INSPECTION AND THE COMPANY MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD NOTIFY THE FAA IF THEY DISCOVER ANY PROBLEMS.

## Other reports on N2088K (2)

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

- [Incident 20101017048899I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101017048899I), Oct 17, 2010: Piper PA-44-180 (N2088K), Chino, CA, Minor damage. On October 17 2010, at approximately 1500 hours pacific standard time, a Piper PA-44-180 landed at Chino aiport in Chino, CA. 2 crewmembers were on board…
- [Incident 20030103000419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030103000419I), Jan 3, 2003: Piper PA44180 (N2088K), Pensacola, FL, Minor damage. (-23) On January 3, 2003 at approximately 13:00 Piper PA-44-180 was engaged in flight training. After approximately 45 minutes of flight the aircraft returned…

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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