Modesto City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Modesto, California 95354
Wednesday, November 30, 1988 18:23 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING AN ILS APPROACH IN NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DIMINISH RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE STALLING. BEFORE THE PILOT COULD REGAIN CONTROL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE OR AIRPORT EQUIPMENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/30/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1823
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City MODESTO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95354
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MODESTO CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MOD
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 97
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1856 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID MOD
Elevation of weather observation facility 97
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1917
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 30 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38187
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5852V
NTSB Number LAX89LA041
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
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7715257
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 18 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 3700
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MODESTO FLIGHT CENTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 700 TIOGA DR.
Aircraft Owner City MODESTO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95354
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MODESTO FLIGHT CENTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 700 TIOGA DR.
Operator City MODESTO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95354
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FAT
Departure City FRESNO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1735
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MOD
Destination City MODESTO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 28
Runway Length 5911
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --