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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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November 25, 2005 · Piper PA-28-161 · N8091H

Panamint Spring, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 25, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Panamint Spring, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161
Tail Number
N8091H
Operator
Universal Air Academy
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX06CA045

The airplane struck a trailer after landing in a fire break clearing (fire line). The pilot misidentified the fire line as her intended destination airport. The fire line surface was rough and rocky and about 4/10-mile long. During the landing the left wing struck a parked RV trailer and the force of the impact separated the left wing from the fuselage. The wreckage came to rest in the dirt on the left side of the fire line. The pilot's intended destination airport was actually 40 miles farther to the east.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper in-flight selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.

Full Narrative

On November 24, 2005, about 1630 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8091H, struck an abandoned RV trailer after landing in a cleared area referred to as a "fire line" near Panamint Springs, California. Universal Air Academy operated the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight departed El Monte, California, about 1400, with a planned destination of Stovepipe Wells Airport in the Death Valley National Park, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator, the pilot stated that she misidentified the landing area as her destination airport. She made a low approach to examine the surface conditions and then made her landing; touching down about 1/3 down the fire line. Shortly after landing, the left wing struck the first of a series of five trailers parked to the left of the fire line. The impact detached the left wing from the fuselage and spun the airplane to the left where the wreckage came to rest in a ditch. The pilot's intended destination, Stovepipe Wells Airport, is 40 miles to the east of Panamint Springs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector on scene stated the fire line was about 4/10-mile long. The surface of the line was extremely rough and rocky. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 PST
Nearest Airport40nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-161
Tail NumberN8091H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorUniversal Air Academy
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-G4 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 24 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.95 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data