# NTSB LAX88FA306: Piper PA-28-161, N4328Y, Temecula, CA, September 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1988, 15:48 local (22:48 UTC)
- Place: Temecula, CA
- Location: 33.4936° N, 117.1484° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Temecula, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4936&lon=-117.1484&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25858
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA306
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25858/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA306

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY INITIATE A GO-AROUND DURING AN ABORTED LANDING. THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING, FAILURE TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY FOR THE ABORTED TAKEOFF, AND NOT ESTABLISHING THE PROPER RATE OF CLIMB DUE TO HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE FAILURE TO RAISE THE FLAPS ARE CONSIDERED FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER LANDING HIS AIRCRAFT ON THE 3023 FOOT ASPHALT RUNWAY, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY APPROXIMATELY 635 FROM THE THRESHOLD. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND INITIATED AN ABORTED LANDING FROM THE OFF RUNWAY LOCATION. THE AIRCRAFT OVERFLEW ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AHEAD OF THE POINT WHERE THE ABORTED LANDING WAS INITIATED. THEN THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A METAL LADDER ATTACHED TO 24 FOOT HIGH COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN HIS FLIGHT PATH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4328Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4328Y-1991-04-24), registration cancelled 1991-04-24, S/N 288416024 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 288416024
- Airframe hours: 2089
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D36 161 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Calstate Flying Club
- Registered owner: Welch, Preston F.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 18, 1988, 21 hours before
- Departed: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA
- Destination: 2L0, TEMECULA, CA
- Airport: 2LO, Rancho California, runway 12, 3,023 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 97 total, 13 in this make and model, 47 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RIV, 23 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880902036659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880902036659A), Sep 2, 1988: Piper PA28161, Temecula, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Landing downwind veered off and paralleled runway. Go around full flaps over waiting aircraft hit building. Crashed

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.

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