Aqua Caliente Sags Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Julian, California 92036
Wednesday, June 28, 1989 19:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS LANDING TO THE SOUTHEAST AND UNAWARE OF THE DOWNWIND CONDITIONS (WINDS OUT OF THE WEST AT AN ESTIMATED 12 TO 15 KNOTS). HE ESTIMATED HIS AIRSPEED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 20 KNOTS HIGHER THAN NORMAL AND THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN BEYOND THE HALF WAY POINT OF THE 2500 FOOT AIRSTRIP. HE DETERMINED THAT A GO-AROUND WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE AND VEERED THE ACFT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT NOSE GEAR SANK INTO SOFT TERRAIN AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT THE PROPER RUNWAY FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS AND TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND WHEN TOUCHDOWN AT THE PROPER POINT WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City JULIAN
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92036
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AQUA CALIENTE SAGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L54
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 1220
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 603
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40113
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N23687
NTSB Number LAX89LA227
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-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-81A0154
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WESTERN SUN AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3717 JOHN J. MONTGOMERY DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SAN DIEGO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92123
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code MYF
Departure City SAN DIEGO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1820
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --