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December 17, 1984 · Piper PA-60-601P · N601FP

Mammoth Lakes, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 17, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-60-601P
Tail Number
N601FP
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX85FA076

THE ACFT TOOKOFF FROM AN ARPT WHOSE RWYS HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR SNOW REMOVAL. A NOTAM HAD BEEN FILED WITH THE FRESNO FSS BY THE MAMMOTH LAKE ARPT MGR AT 0900 HRS FOR TAXI AND RWY SNOW REMOVAL. THE PLT WAS AWARE OF THE NOTAM BECAUSE THE MGR AND A LINEMAN BOTH SAID THEY ADVISED HIM OF IT. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THE PLT ENTER THE ACFT AFTER DECLINING ENG PRE-HEAT OR ACFT DE-ICING. WHEN ADVISED BY THE LINEMAN THAT THE 2 QTS OF OIL THAT THE PLT REQUESTED DID NOT 'REGISTER ONTHE DIP-STICK.' THE PLT ORDERED ANOTHER QT TO BE 'THROWN' IN & 'HURRY UP.' NO PRE-FLT OR WARM UP OR BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECK WAS NOTED BY OBSERVERS. TURNING IMMEDIATELY ONTO THE RWY AND ROLLING FOR TAKEOFF THE PLT PASSED A SNOW PLOW. THE ACFT USED 7000 FT (ALL OF THE RWY) AND LEFT THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ARPT ELEVATION IS 7128 FT MSL. THE ACFT FIRST STRUCK A DIRT MOUND 3/4 OF A MILE AFTER TAKEOFF. AFTER MAINTAINING FURTHER FLT FOR APRX 280 FT WHICH CROSSED A SMALL RAVINE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE FAR SIDE OF THE RAVINE & STARTED TO BREAK APART, STOPPING 144 FT FURTHER EAST.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT TOOKOFF FROM AN ARPT WHOSE RWYS HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR SNOW REMOVAL. A NOTAM HAD BEEN FILED WITH THE FRESNO FSS BY THE MAMMOTH LAKE ARPT MGR AT 0900 HRS FOR TAXI AND RWY SNOW REMOVAL. THE PLT WAS AWARE OF THE NOTAM BECAUSE THE MGR AND A LINEMAN BOTH SAID THEY ADVISED HIM OF IT. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THE PLT ENTER THE ACFT AFTER DECLINING ENG PRE-HEAT OR ACFT DE-ICING. WHEN ADVISED BY THE LINEMAN THAT THE 2 QTS OF OIL THAT THE PLT REQUESTED DID NOT 'REGISTER ONTHE DIP-STICK.' THE PLT ORDERED ANOTHER QT TO BE 'THROWN' IN & 'HURRY UP.' NO PRE-FLT OR WARM UP OR BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECK WAS NOTED BY OBSERVERS. TURNING IMMEDIATELY ONTO THE RWY AND ROLLING FOR TAKEOFF THE PLT PASSED A SNOW PLOW. THE ACFT USED 7000 FT (ALL OF THE RWY) AND LEFT THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ARPT ELEVATION IS 7128 FT MSL. THE ACFT FIRST STRUCK A DIRT MOUND 3/4 OF A MILE AFTER TAKEOFF. AFTER MAINTAINING FURTHER FLT FOR APRX 280 FT WHICH CROSSED A SMALL RAVINE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE FAR SIDE OF THE RAVINE & STARTED TO BREAK APART, STOPPING 144 FT FURTHER EAST.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 PST
Nearest AirportMammoth Lakes (34nm E)
Runway9
Runway Length7000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-60-601P
Tail NumberN601FP
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-U2A · Reciprocating · 290
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point10 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:00
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data