Piper PA-28-180 N9602J

Summary

On 28 January 1995 at about 18:35 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N9602J was involved in an accident near Big Bear City, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 January 1995 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Bear City, California, United States

Nearest airport

Big Bear City (L35)

Coordinates

34.2602, -116.8391

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N9602J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Parker

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95FA088

2 people died.

the pilot's improper preflight inspection during which he failed to insure removal of the induction air system inlet covers. This action resulted in a partial loss of engine power during initial climb. A factor which contributed to the accident was the pilot's decision to not follow published takeoff procedures which would have permitted flight over lower elevation terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING NOTHING UNUSUAL DURING THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF, EXCEPT THAT THE AIRPLANE ONLY CLIMBED TO ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AS IT PASSED THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 08. THE AIRPORT'S PUBLISHED DEPARTURE PROCEDURE IS TO TURN 10 DEGREES LEFT OF THE RUNWAY HEADING AND OVERFLY LEVEL TERRAIN. SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED BEGINNING A RIGHT CROSSWIND TURN OVER RISING TERRAIN, AND IT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINSIDE ABOUT 0.76 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY THE PRESENCE OF 2-INCH-THICK FOAM RUBBER COWL PLUGS. THE PLUGS HAD BEEN LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE NO. 1 AND 2 CYLINDERS, AND INSIDE THE CARBURETOR AIR SCOOP INLET. THE PLUGS EXHIBITED A HANDMADE APPEARANCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.