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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 18, 1988 · Piper PA-28-140 · N55478

Big Bear, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 18, 1988
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Location
Big Bear, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N55478
Operator
Cal State Flying Club
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX88FA321

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PLT & 2 PAX WENT GAMBLING. THEY RETIRED FOR THE EVENING (MORNING) BETWEEN 0315 & 0400. THEY AWOKE AT ABOUT 0830. AT 1007 THEY FLEW FM BULLHEAD, AZ TO BIG BEAR, CA. WHEN THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO DEPART FM THE BIG BEAR ARPT HE LEFT THE MIXTURE CONTROL IN THE FULL RICH POSITION. AS THE ACFT TRANSITIONED OUT OF GROUND EFFECT IT STALLED. THE PLT HELD THE YOKE AFT AS THE ACFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT & CRASHED 1880 FT BEYOND THE RUNWAY'S END. THE FRONT RIGHT SEATED PAX VIDEO TAPED THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE 93-HR TOTAL TIME PLT HAD 33-HRS IN MAKE & MODEL ACFT. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF HIM HAVING RECEIVED DUAL INSTRUCTION IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE TAKEOFFS. THE DA WAS IN EXCESS OF 8500 FT. THE ACFT'S CERTIFICATED MAX GROSS WEIGHT WAS EXCEEDED. A BOX CONTAINING MARIJUANA WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT WRECKAGE. TOX RESULTS CONFIRMED MARIJUANA IN THE PLT'S BLOOD & IN THE CAMERMAN/PAX'S URINE.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION, THE AIRCRAFT'S EXCESSIVE WEIGHT AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LEAN THE MIXTURE. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION TO AFFECT RECOVERY FROM THE DEVELOPING STALL, HIS POOR JUDGEMENT, HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS IMPAIRED PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION AS IT RELATED TO HIS LACK OF SLEEP AND DRUG USE.

Full Narrative

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PLT & 2 PAX WENT GAMBLING. THEY RETIRED FOR THE EVENING (MORNING) BETWEEN 0315 & 0400. THEY AWOKE AT ABOUT 0830. AT 1007 THEY FLEW FM BULLHEAD, AZ TO BIG BEAR, CA. WHEN THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO DEPART FM THE BIG BEAR ARPT HE LEFT THE MIXTURE CONTROL IN THE FULL RICH POSITION. AS THE ACFT TRANSITIONED OUT OF GROUND EFFECT IT STALLED. THE PLT HELD THE YOKE AFT AS THE ACFT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT & CRASHED 1880 FT BEYOND THE RUNWAY'S END. THE FRONT RIGHT SEATED PAX VIDEO TAPED THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE 93-HR TOTAL TIME PLT HAD 33-HRS IN MAKE & MODEL ACFT. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF HIM HAVING RECEIVED DUAL INSTRUCTION IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE TAKEOFFS. THE DA WAS IN EXCESS OF 8500 FT. THE ACFT'S CERTIFICATED MAX GROSS WEIGHT WAS EXCEEDED. A BOX CONTAINING MARIJUANA WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT WRECKAGE. TOX RESULTS CONFIRMED MARIJUANA IN THE PLT'S BLOOD & IN THE CAMERMAN/PAX'S URINE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:42 PDT
Nearest AirportBig Bear City (0nm N)
Runway7
Runway Length5850 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN55478
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCal State Flying Club
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 serious injury)
Fatal2
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 32 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind50° @ 10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data