Fresno Air Terminal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fresno, California 93727
Friday, July 30, 1993 23:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT DURING A BRIGHT NIGHT UNDER VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS FOR A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, AND THE NOSE GEAR WAS DAMAGED DURING THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE FLARE AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE RESULTING BOUNCED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE ALTERNATOR FAILURE AND THE NIGHT CONDITION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2330
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City FRESNO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93727
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FRESNO AIR TERMINAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FAT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 333
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2337 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID FAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 333
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 403
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 2 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52706
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3053N
NTSB Number LAX93LA312
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7990288
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GOLDEN ENTERPRISES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4885 E. SHIELDS, STE 201
Aircraft Owner City FRESNO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93726
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GOLDEN ENTERPRISES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4885 E. SHIELDS, STE 201
Operator City FRESNO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93726
Operator Code CUEA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PDX
Departure City PORTLAND
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 7206
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --