Casualties unknown

Aircraft stalls on final approach at night, striking ground short of runway (N252EZ)

Clearlake, CA, US

On September 4, 1983, a Piper PA-24-250 (registration N252EZ) was involved in an aviation accident near Clearlake, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with the ground short of the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During a nighttime arrival with calm winds, the pilot allowed airspeed to decay on final approach, causing the aircraft to stall and impact the ground approximately 300 feet before reaching the runway threshold.

What happened

The pilot was conducting an arrival procedure during nighttime conditions. The weather report indicated calm wind conditions at the time of the event. The flight crew initiated an approach to Runway 30, which was equipped with operating medium intensity lighting systems.

As the aircraft established itself on the final approach segment, the pilot allowed the airspeed to decrease below safe limits. This loss of airspeed resulted in a stall. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground approximately 300 feet short of the runway threshold.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the operational parameters leading up to the impact. Key factors included the nighttime visibility environment and the status of the runway lighting, which was confirmed to be functional. No mechanical anomalies were cited as contributing factors in the provided narrative.

Findings

The primary factor leading to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach phase. The stall occurred due to this low-energy state, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain just prior to the intended landing point.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with the ground short of the runway.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X44584. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.