Piper PA28-161 N8432K
25 January 1992 · Mountain Pass, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 25 January 1992 at about 19:45 local time, a Piper PA28-161 registered N8432K, operated by ART Scholl Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Mountain Pass, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mountain Pass, California, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-161
- Registration
- N8432K
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- ART Scholl Aviation, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bullhead City → Rialto
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92FA102
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRCRAFT'S AIRSPEED ABOVE THE STALL SPEED (VS) THAT RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL/SPIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES TO RETURN TO ITS HOME AIRPORT. WHILE ENROUTE, THE PILOT OPENED HIS VFR FLIGHT PLAN VIA RADIO WITH FLIGHT SERVICE. THIS WAS THE LAST CONTACT WITH THE PILOT. A GROUND WITNESS WHO LIVES IN THE DESERT NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED THAT HE HEARD A NOISE LIKE AN ENGINE CUTTING OUT FOLLOWED BY NOISE RESEMBLING A CAR DOOR SLAMMING. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED FOR THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT BECAME OVERDUE. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE AND THE FATALLY INJURED PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE FOUND THE NEXT DAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A RIGHT WING LOW, STALL SPIN ATTITUDE. ALL THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE POINT OF GROUND IMPACT. THE PILOT OBTAINED HIS PRIVATE PILOT AIRMAN CERTIFICATE TEN MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAD LOGGED APPROXIMATELY 85 FLYING HOURS IN THE SAME TYPE AIRPLANE. THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES FOUND WITH THE ENGINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1992 | Piper PA28-235 | Havasu Lake, California, United States | Krill, Bryan | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1992 | Piper PA28-161 | St. Clairsville, Ohio, United States | Jack A. Hans | No injuries | - |
| 23 Apr 1992 | Piper PA28-161 | Rutherfordton, North Carolina, United States | Chapel Hill Flying Club | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1992 | Piper PA28-161 | Brentwood, New Hampshire, United States | Apollo Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Oct 1992 | Piper PA28-140 | Rosemead, California, United States | Maples, Madge R. | Fatal | 2 |
| 28 May 1991 | Piper PA28-140 | Albany, Minnesota, United States | Skalicky, Norm | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |