Piper PA-23-180 N4376P

Summary

On 4 August 1989 at about 19:40 local time, a Piper PA-23-180 registered N4376P, operated by Simanski, Donald E., was involved in an accident near Lancaster, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 1989 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Lancaster, California, United States

Nearest airport

Gen. William J. Fox (GWF)

Coordinates

34.7207, -118.1507

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-180

Registration

N4376P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Simanski, Donald E.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA263

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES IN RESTARTING THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES THE HYDRUALIC PUMP AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED EMERGENCY LANDING GEAR EXTENSION PROCEDURES. THE PILOT'S DECISION TO SHUT DOWN AN ENGINE AND FEATHER THE PROPELLER BEFORE ASSURING HIMSELF THAT THE PROPELLER WOULD UNFEATHER AND HIS INADEQUATE TRAINING IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE AIRCRAFT OWNER ELECTED TO CONDUCT A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. WHILE AIRBORNE, HE SHUT DOWN THE RIGHT ENGINE, THEN FEATHERED AND UNFEATHERED THE PROPELLER, AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE BY LETTING THE PROPELLER WINDMILL. WHEN HE FOLLOWED THE SAME PROCEDURE WITH THE LEFT ENGINE AND PROPELLER, THE PROPELLER FAILED TO UNFEATHER AND HE COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE. THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT WITH ONE ENGINE OPERATING AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR DURING PATTERN ENTRY. THE LANDING GEAR DID NOT EXTEND AND THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT CLIMB AND BEGAN TO LOOSE ALTITUDE. EVENTUALLY, IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND OFF AIRPORT DURING AN UNARRESTED DESCENT. THE LANDING GEAR EXTENSION AND RETRACTION SYSTEM WAS HYDRAULIC AND POWERED BY A PUMP ON THE LEFT ENGINE. THE FLIGHT MANUAL PROVIDED TWO ALTERNATE MEANS OF EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION, NEITHER OF WHICH THE PILOT ATTEMPTED ON THE FIRST LANDING APPROACH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.