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NTSB Report
September 11, 1983 · Piper PA-28-140 · N56513
Big Bear, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 11, 1983
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (1 fatality, 3 minor injuries)
Location
Big Bear, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N56513
Operator
Bartlett Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX83FA434
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AFTER A RUNUP, DURING WHICH THE MIXTURE WAS 'LEANED', THE ACFT DEPARTED RWY 25 AT BIG BEAR AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT THE NOSE OF THE ACFT WAS LOWERED TO 'GAIN 80 KTS IAS,' AND THAT THE ACFT 'CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 200 FT ABOVE THE LAKE AND WOULD CLIMB NO HIGHER.' THE ACFT THEN 'BEGAN A GRADUAL DESCENT,' AND STRUCK THE WATER AT '60 KTS IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE A LEVEL ATTITUDE.' INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT WAS AT LEAST 294 LBS OVER GROSS WT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ALSO COMPUTED TO BE 8352 FT WHEN USING 60 DEG F AS A VALVE. THE RECORDED TEMP 15 NM AWAY WAS 86 DEG F. NO PRE-IMPACT DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION OF ACFT WRECKAGE OR THE SUBSEQUENT ENG TEST.
Full Narrative
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AFTER A RUNUP, DURING WHICH THE MIXTURE WAS 'LEANED', THE ACFT DEPARTED RWY 25 AT BIG BEAR AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT THE NOSE OF THE ACFT WAS LOWERED TO 'GAIN 80 KTS IAS,' AND THAT THE ACFT 'CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 200 FT ABOVE THE LAKE AND WOULD CLIMB NO HIGHER.' THE ACFT THEN 'BEGAN A GRADUAL DESCENT,' AND STRUCK THE WATER AT '60 KTS IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE A LEVEL ATTITUDE.' INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT WAS AT LEAST 294 LBS OVER GROSS WT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ALSO COMPUTED TO BE 8352 FT WHEN USING 60 DEG F AS A VALVE. THE RECORDED TEMP 15 NM AWAY WAS 86 DEG F. NO PRE-IMPACT DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION OF ACFT WRECKAGE OR THE SUBSEQUENT ENG TEST.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:20 PDT
Nearest AirportBig Bear City (5nm WSW)
Runway25
Runway Length5850 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN56513
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBartlett Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary4 injuries (1 fatality, 3 minor injuries)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor3
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 24 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind240° @ 10 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time03:55
Weather SourceWFAC