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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 24, 1989 · Piper PA-34-200 · N4374T

Lake Elsinore, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 24, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Lake Elsinore, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-200
Tail Number
N4374T
Operator
Steve Mayes
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX89LA135

The pilot of a PA-34-200 attempted to make a single engine go-around and collided with the terrain near Lake Elsinore, CA. The CFI stated that he had shutdown the left engine and feathered the propeller to demonstrate, to the student, single-engine procedures and performance. The CFI then told his student to perform a single-engine landing. The student was high and fast on final. The student attempted a go-around but, the acft did not respond with a positive rate of climb. The CFI took control of the acft but, was also unsuccessful in gaining a positive rate of climb. The acft would not clear power lines that were located at the end of the runway. The CFI descended the acft and flew under them. The acft then entered into a positive rate of climb but not enough to clear houses in their flight path. The CFI elected to land straight ahead. There were no reported mechanical failures or malfunctions with the acft prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

CFI DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT IN HIS DEMONSTRATION OF SINGLE ENGINE OPERATION OF A TWIN ENGINE ACFT. HIS LACK OF SUPERVISION OF AN IMPROPER, DETERIORATING SITUATION ASSURED AN UNSUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT OF A PA-34-200 ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A SINGLE ENGINE GO-AROUND AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN NEAR LAKE ELSINORE, CA. THE CFI STATED THAT HE HAD SHUTDOWN THE LEFT ENGINE AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER TO DEMONSTRATE, TO THE STUDENT, SINGLE- ENGINE PROCEDURES AND PERFORMANCE. THE CFI THEN TOLD HIS STUDENT TO PERFORM A SINGLE-ENGINE LANDING. THE STUDENT WAS HIGH AND FAST ON FINAL. THE STUDENT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND BUT, THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND WITH A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT BUT, WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL IN GAINING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR POWER LINES THAT WERE LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE CFI DESCENDED THE ACFT AND FLEW UNDER THEM. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED INTO A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB BUT NOT ENOUGH TO CLEAR HOUSES IN THEIR FLIGHT PATH. THE CFI ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:03 PST
Nearest AirportSKYLARK (0nm N)
Runway11
Runway Length2575 ft
Runway Width80 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-200
Tail NumberN4374T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSteve Mayes
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C-1E6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 36 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data