Piper PA-28-181 N4291V

Summary

On 12 May 1991 at about 23:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N4291V, operated by Plus One Flyers, Inc., was involved in an accident near Catalina Island, California, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 May 1991 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Catalina Island, California, United States

Coordinates

33.3807, -118.4491

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N4291V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Plus One Flyers, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Avalon → San Diego

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA212

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND INTENTIONAL LOW FLYING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE CRUISING INTO THE WATER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR RELATED TO THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT THE PILOT, AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS FLEW FROM CATALINA TO SAN DIEGO, CA. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND TO THE EARTH'S SURFACE. THE NOSE WHEEL AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL COLLIDED WITH THE WATER. AS A RESULT, THE NOSE GEAR BENT AFT AND THE LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE STRUT. THE IMPACT ALSO RESULTED IN THE STRUT'S WING ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY BEING PUSHED UPWARD THROUGH THE CAMBERED SURFACE OF THE WING. THE PILOT ORIGINALLY ASSERTED THAT THE MISHAP OCCURRED DURING A ROUGH TAKEOFF. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY ASSERTED THAT THE DAMAGE OCCURRED UPON COLLIDING WITH THE OCEAN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.