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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

December 11, 1991 · Piper PA34-200T · N6522F

San Andreas, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 11, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
San Andreas, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA34-200T
Tail Number
N6522F
Operator
Ponte Dennis S
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92LA063

A TWIN ENGINE PIPER PA 34-200T COLLIDED WITH TREES IN HILLY TERRAIN 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT AFTER TAKING OFF IN FOGGY CONDITIONS. THE NONMULTIENGINE/INSTRUMENT RATED CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED HE LOST POWER IN THE LEFT ENGINE AND DID NOT PERFORM THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION OF THE PILOT REVEALED THAT HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED, HE DID NOT HAVE A AIRPLANE MULTI-ENGINE CLASS RATING, AN INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE RATING OR PROOF OF A CURRENT BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. REVIEW OF THE PILOT'S AIRMEN RECORDS, RETAINED BY THE FAA IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, REVEALED THREE PREVIOUS SUSPENSIONS OF THE PILOT'S PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS. THE MOST RECENT THIRD CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED TO THE PILOT ON MAY 4, 1983, AND HAD EXPIRED.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE NONMULTIENGINE/INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT IN COMMAND TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE DURING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER TRAINING, LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, HEAVY FOG REPORTED IN THE ACCIDENT AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE UNDETERMINED LOSS OF POWER.

Full Narrative

A TWIN ENGINE PIPER PA 34-200T COLLIDED WITH TREES IN HILLY TERRAIN 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT AFTER TAKING OFF IN FOGGY CONDITIONS. THE NONMULTIENGINE/INSTRUMENT RATED CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED HE LOST POWER IN THE LEFT ENGINE AND DID NOT PERFORM THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION OF THE PILOT REVEALED THAT HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED, HE DID NOT HAVE A AIRPLANE MULTI-ENGINE CLASS RATING, AN INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE RATING OR PROOF OF A CURRENT BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. REVIEW OF THE PILOT'S AIRMEN RECORDS, RETAINED BY THE FAA IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, REVEALED THREE PREVIOUS SUSPENSIONS OF THE PILOT'S PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS. THE MOST RECENT THIRD CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED TO THE PILOT ON MAY 4, 1983, AND HAD EXPIRED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time03:45 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA34-200T
Tail NumberN6522F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPonte Dennis S
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-E · Reciprocating · 200
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data