Sierra Skypark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fresno, California 93706
Tuesady, April 18, 1989 16:55 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE FELT MUSHY AND THAT IT WOULD STALL. THE PILOT OPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE POLE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND LAND IN A FIELD. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FENCE POST THAT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH DURING THE LANDING ROLL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/18/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1655
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City FRESNO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93706
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SIERRA SKYPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Q60
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 321
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 301
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 18 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38843
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1490T
NTSB Number LAX89LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7225534
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FAIR, PAUL R
Aircraft Owner Street Address 675 LINWOOD CT.
Aircraft Owner City VACAVILLE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95688
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FAIR, PAUL R.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 657 LINWOOD CT
Operator City VACAVILLE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95688
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 045
Destination City VACAVILLE
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 30
Runway Length 2920
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --