- Date
- November 3, 1983, 19:35 local (Nov 4, 1983, 03:35 UTC)
- Place
- Riverside, CA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N15039Piper PA-32-260
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19831103056259A
- Case key
- 23900
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Shortly after departure the plt radioed in that he had blown a rod 'or something' and was about two miles out on a right base leg. He then informed the tower that he was not going to make the runway after which the left wing contacted a power pole and the acft exploded on impact. Examination of the engine revealed foreign debris in the oil pump and the number six connecting rod completely separated from the crankshaft. The respective end cap had come apart from the connecting rod.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N15039
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7300001
- Airframe hours
- 1,912
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert J. Newstat
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1983
- Departed
- RAL
- Destination
- L35 · Big Bear City, CA
- Airport
- RAL · Riverside Municipal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 4,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RAL, 2 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.