# Accident 20031001025919A: Piper PA32R301T, Corona, CA, October 1, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 1, 2003, 15:40 local time
- Place: Corona, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9461° N, 117.5781° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9461&lon=-117.5781&mi=10
- Aircraft: N481CA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N481CA-2017-05-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301T (registry code 7103220, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R301T
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA001) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031001025919A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT INFORMATION, HOURS MAKE AND MODEL, HOURS LAST 90 DAYS, TOTAL HOURS, AND REGULATORY CHECK-RIDE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ON OCTOBER 1, 2003, MR. ROBERT P. MUMFORD JR. AND PASSENGER ^PRIVACY DATA^ DEPARTED CORONA AIRPORT, CORONA CA. ENROUTE TO OAKLAND CA. ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, AT 15:35. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN THE SANTA ANA RIVER BED LOCATED IN NORCO CA. MR. MUMFORD FLEW THE STANDARD IFR DEPARTURE, AND AT 1300 FEET HE CONTACTED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TERMINAL RADAR CONTROL (SO CAL TRACON) DECLARED AN EMERGENCY STATING HE THOUGHT HE HAD A FIRE ON BOARD. AIRBORNE AND GROUND WITNESSES STATED THEY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE POST IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT, AND MR. ROBERT MUMFORD AND PASSENGER ^PRIVACY DATA OMI^ RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. CORRECTIVE ACTION IS NONE AT THIS TIME. THE INVESTIGATION HAS NOT REVEALED THE CAUSE OF THE IN-FLIGHT FIRE.

## 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 LAX04FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA001), Oct 1, 2003: Piper PA-32R-301T (N481CA), Corona, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the turbocharger exhaust clamp due to a pre-existing weld crack, which allowed the release of high temperature exhaust gasses in the engine compartment, causing an in-flight fire.

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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