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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 17, 1994 · Piper PA-28R-201 · N30150

Fort Bragg, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 17, 1994
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (2 serious injuries, 2 minor injuries)
Location
Fort Bragg, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-201
Tail Number
N30150
Operator
Sundance Flying Club
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX94LA366

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER AN IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED ABOUT 3/4 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE STALL WARNING SOUNDED AT 80 KNOTS AS THE PILOT REACHED FOR THE LANDING GEAR LEVER. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING DROPPED TO A 10- DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK, FOLLOWED BY A 60-DEGREE RIGHT ROLL. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED AND COLLIDED WITH TREES IN A 30-DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN A CLEAR AREA SURROUNDED BY TALL TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING AN OFFSHORE BREEZE FROM HIS RIGHT ONCE THE AIRPLANE CLEARED THE TOPS OF THE TREES. ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT QUANTIFY THE WIND SPEED, HE DID STATE THAT THE WINDS ON THE AIRPORT SURFACE WERE CALM, WHILE THE LOW LEVEL CLOUDS WERE MOVING VERY FAST AT THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE TREE LINE.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to adequately anticipate and compensate for the existing crosswind/windshear conditions during the takeoff initial climb.

Full Narrative

On September 16, 1994, at 1820 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N30150, collided with trees after an in-flight loss of control during the takeoff climb from runway 16 at the Fort Bragg Airport, Fort Bragg, California. The airplane was operated by Sundance Flying Club, Palo Alto, California, and rented by the pilot for a personal flight. The airplane was destroyed in the collision sequence. The certificated private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Two other passengers received serious injuries. The flight to Fort Bragg originated from San Carlos, California, at 1615 hours and the pilot was returning to San Carlos at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot indicated the airplane stalled about 3/4 mile from the departure end of runway 16. The pilot heard the stall warning sound at 80 knots of airspeed as he was reaching for the landing gear lever. The airplane's left wing dropped to a 10-degree angle of bank, followed by a 60-degree right roll. The airplane settled and collided with trees in a 30-degree right bank. The pilot also stated he encountered an offshore breeze from his right once the airplane cleared the trees surrounding the airport. He did state that the winds on the airport surface were calm, while low-level clouds were moving very fast at the western end of the tree line. He reported no mechanical malfunctions.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:20 PDT
Nearest AirportFort Bragg Airport (1nm SSE)
Runway16
Runway Length1800 ft
Runway Width15 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-201
Tail NumberN30150
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSundance Flying Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-CIC6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (2 serious injuries, 2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 26 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility0.2 sm
CeilingOvercast 1000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:13
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data