# Accident 20060408018889A: Piper PA28181, Coalinga, CA, April 8, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 2006, 12:00 local time
- Place: Coalinga, CA
- Airport: Harris Ranch Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.2478° N, 120.2375° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2478&lon=-120.2375&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8068J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8068J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (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 PA28181
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX06CA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA272) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060408018889A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDING AT HARRIS RANCH AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED A CROSS WIND AS HE TOUCHED DOWN. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND BENT AFT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL AND LOWER FUSELAGE JUST AFT OF THE FIREWALL. THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND EXITED THE RUNWAY INTO THE DIRT AT MID FIELD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR 3 PASSENGERS. THIS EVENT WAS REPORTED TO THE FAA AND NTSB ON THE SAME DAY BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES BUT WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE FSDO UNTIL THE AIRPORT OPERATOR CALLED AND REPORTED AN ABANDONED AIRCRAFT. THIS RESULTED IN AN INSPECTOR PROCEEDING TO THE SCENE AND DISCOVERING THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER/OPERATOR, A FLIGHT SCHOOL HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE PILOT APPEARS TO HAVE RETURNED TO TAIWAN AND THE FAA WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT EITHER PARTY.

## 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 LAX06CA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA272), Apr 8, 2006: Piper PA-28-181 (N8068J), Coalinga, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his inadequate recovery technique that led to a hard landing.

## Other reports on N8068J (2)

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

- [Incident 20260227005631I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260227005631I), Feb 27, 2026: Piper PA-28-181 (N8068J), Decatur, AL, Minor damage. Pilot taxied [privacy data omitted] into [privacy data omitted] with the intent to fly. Reported no damage to [privacy data omitted] and minor damage to…
- [Accident 19880504054519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880504054519A), May 4, 1988: Piper PA28181 (N8068J), Freeport, Bahamas, Substantial damage. Flew too close to a thunderstorm. Severe turbulence wrinkled wings. Completed trip and returned before noting damage

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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