Piper PA-28-140 N511FL

Summary

On 25 April 1985 at about 18:25 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N511FL, operated by John E. Fruits, was involved in an accident near Felton, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

25 April 1985 at 18:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Felton, California, United States

Nearest airport

Bonnydune

Coordinates

37.0790, -122.0490

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N511FL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John E. Fruits

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX85LA222

2 people had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE PREFLIGHT OF THE ACFT, THE PLT SAID HE OBSERVED THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT AS FROM THE NORTH AT ABOUT '5 TO 10 KTS, WHICH INDICATED A LEFT CROSSWIND. THE AIRPORT IS IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDED BY PINE TREES WHICH AVERAGE ABOUT 60 FT IN HEIGHT. PLT SAID THAT HE WAS CLIMBING AT ABOUT '80 MPH' FOLLOWING A NORMAL SHORTFIELD TAKEOFF WHEN THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A 'VIOLENT DOWN DRAFT' AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE DOWNDEAFT ROLLED THE ACFT TO A 90 DEGREE LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE AND HE COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL PRIOR TO CONTACTING TREES OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. GROUND WITNESSES ON THE AIRPORT SAID THAT THE WINGS ON THE AIRPORT PROPER WERE 'ALMOST CALM', HOWEVER AT THE TREE TOP LEVEL WERE FROM THE LEFT AT '10 KTS WITH GUST TO 15 KTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.