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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 18, 1987 · Piper PA-24-250 · N5393P

Jamestown, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 18, 1987
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Jamestown, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N5393P
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX87FA149

DURING THE NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE ACCIDENT ACFT, IN COMPANY WITH 2 OTHERS, WAS TRYING TO LAND AT THE DEST AIRPORT IN HILLY TERRAIN. AS THE 3 ACFT APPROACHED THE AIRPORT THEY ENCOUNTERED BKN TO OVRCST CONDITIONS OF ABOUT 400 FT AGL AND VIS OF 2 MI IN RAIN. THE FIRST 2 ACFT LANDED SAFELY, BUT THE ACCIDENT ACFT MADE A GO AROUND BECAUSE THE PLT SAID VIA RADIO THAT HE 'LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY AFTER ENTERING A CLOUD.' ON THE RADIO, THE PLT SAID THAT HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS, FOLLOWED BY A REMARK 'THERE'S THE MOON.' OVER THE RADIO, THE PLT TOLD THE OTHER PLTS THAT HE WAS GOING TO A NEARBY AIRPORT TO WAIT FOR BETTER WX. GND WITNESS HEARD THE ACFT CIRCLING SEVERAL TIMES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BEFORE HEARING SOUNDS OF IMPACT. EXAM OF THE SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT STRUCK A LARGE PINE TREE NEAR THE TOP WITH ITS RIGHT WING. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A STEEP INVERTED NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE EXTENDED WRECKAGE BEARING WAS ALIGNED WITH THE DEST AIRPORT, WHICH WAS 8 MI AWAY.

Full Narrative

DURING THE NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE ACCIDENT ACFT, IN COMPANY WITH 2 OTHERS, WAS TRYING TO LAND AT THE DEST AIRPORT IN HILLY TERRAIN. AS THE 3 ACFT APPROACHED THE AIRPORT THEY ENCOUNTERED BKN TO OVRCST CONDITIONS OF ABOUT 400 FT AGL AND VIS OF 2 MI IN RAIN. THE FIRST 2 ACFT LANDED SAFELY, BUT THE ACCIDENT ACFT MADE A GO AROUND BECAUSE THE PLT SAID VIA RADIO THAT HE 'LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY AFTER ENTERING A CLOUD.' ON THE RADIO, THE PLT SAID THAT HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS, FOLLOWED BY A REMARK 'THERE'S THE MOON.' OVER THE RADIO, THE PLT TOLD THE OTHER PLTS THAT HE WAS GOING TO A NEARBY AIRPORT TO WAIT FOR BETTER WX. GND WITNESS HEARD THE ACFT CIRCLING SEVERAL TIMES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BEFORE HEARING SOUNDS OF IMPACT. EXAM OF THE SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT STRUCK A LARGE PINE TREE NEAR THE TOP WITH ITS RIGHT WING. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A STEEP INVERTED NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE EXTENDED WRECKAGE BEARING WAS ALIGNED WITH THE DEST AIRPORT, WHICH WAS 8 MI AWAY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:40 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN5393P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1A5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightBright Night
WindCalm
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data