# NTSB LAX89LA100: Piper PA-32-300, N4235R, Gualala, CA, January 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 27, 1989, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Gualala, CA
- Coordinates: 38.819892, -123.509963 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8199&lon=-123.5100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26331
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26331/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA100

## Probable cause

PILOT MISJUDGED THE ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

DURING A LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. IT THEN BOUNCED ONTO THE RUNWAY, WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE & CAME TO REST IN THE DIRT. THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING THE OCCURRENCE, BUT NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4235R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4235R-1993-09-21), registration cancelled 1993-09-21, S/N 3240600 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40600
- Airframe hours: 4500
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Russell, Larry
- Registered owner: Larry L Russell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 19, 1988, 20 hours before
- Departed: UKI, UKIAH, CA
- Airport: Q69, Gualala, runway 31, 2,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 660 total, 268 in this make and model, 552 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Observed at: UKI

## 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 19890127001329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890127001329A), Jan 27, 1989: Piper PA32300, Gualala, CA, Substantial damage. Crash landed short of the runway. No mechanical problems. Pilot error and misjudgement appear to be factors.

## Other investigations on N4235R (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 LAX83LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA165), Mar 28, 1983: Piper PA-32-300 (N4235R), Gorman, CA, substantial damage

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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