Fullerton Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fullerton, California 92633
Friday, September 23, 1988 6:36 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-32-260, THAT HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO A MODEL PA-32-300 BY EXCHANGING THE ENGINE, TAXIED TO THE END OF A 3121 FOOT RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF WITH CALM WIND CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT LOAD CONSISTED OF FULL FUEL TANKS, PILOT AND PASSENGER, AND 30 POUNDS OF LUGGAGE. A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL APPROXIMATELY 2850 FEET BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON A FLAT ROOF OF A COMMERICAL BUILDING, COLLIDED WITH THE PARAPET AND CRASHED INTO THE STREET BELOW. THE POST CRASH ENGINE EXAM REVEALED RUST PARTICLES AND WATER THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT THE ACFT FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT ALSO FAILED TO ABOUT THE TAKEOFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/23/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 636
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City FULLERTON
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92633
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FULLERTON MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FUL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 96
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 646 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 131
Weather Observation Facility ID SNA
Elevation of weather observation facility 54
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 98
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2387
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 23 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 805
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39101
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3451W
NTSB Number LAX88FA327
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32319
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 1600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRYANT, PATRICK W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4225 W. COMMONWEATH
Aircraft Owner City FULLERTON
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92633
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AVIATION CLUB OF FULLERTON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3815 W. COMMONWEALTH
Operator City FULLERTON
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92633
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code FUL
Departure City FULLERTON
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 636
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LGB
Destination City LONG BEACH
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 3121
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --