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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 27, 1984 · Piper PA-28R-200 · N56981

Lone Pine, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 27, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Lone Pine, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Tail Number
N56981
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX84FA374

WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN FROM A X-COUNTRY FLT, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL HIKERS DISCOVERED THE WRECKAGE ON 6/29/84. IMPACT OCCURRED AT ABOUT THE 9000 FT LEVEL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE OUTER WING PANELS & HORIZONTAL STABILATORS WERE FOUND AT A REMOTE DISTANCE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. AN EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES REVEALED NO PREEXISTING CRACKS. PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE FORCASTED TO BE OBSCURED WITH BROKEN TO OVERCAST CLOUD BASES AT 8000 TO 10,000 FT. CLOUD TOPS WERE FORCASTED TO BE IN THE VICINITY OF 20,000 FT. SNOW SHOWERS WERE EXPECTED ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL.

Full Narrative

WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN FROM A X-COUNTRY FLT, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL HIKERS DISCOVERED THE WRECKAGE ON 6/29/84. IMPACT OCCURRED AT ABOUT THE 9000 FT LEVEL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE OUTER WING PANELS & HORIZONTAL STABILATORS WERE FOUND AT A REMOTE DISTANCE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. AN EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES REVEALED NO PREEXISTING CRACKS. PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE FORCASTED TO BE OBSCURED WITH BROKEN TO OVERCAST CLOUD BASES AT 8000 TO 10,000 FT. CLOUD TOPS WERE FORCASTED TO BE IN THE VICINITY OF 20,000 FT. SNOW SHOWERS WERE EXPECTED ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-200
Tail NumberN56981
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1C · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 19 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data