Piper PA-28-140 N9956W

Summary

On 13 March 2005 at about 23:57 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N9956W, operated by Durwood D. Johnson, was involved in an accident near Big Bear City, California, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 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

13 March 2005 at 23:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Bear City, California, United States

Nearest airport

Big Bear City (L35)

Coordinates

34.2594, -116.8844

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N9956W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Durwood D. Johnson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Big Bear City → Murrieta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX05FA114

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed that resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush during initial climb. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight preparations and the high density altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane encountered a stall/mush condition during the takeoff initial climb and descended until colliding with a roadside guardrail about 1 mile beyond the end of the runway. The guardrail was located beneath power lines having an approximate elevation of 57 feet above the airport's elevation. Prior to takeoff, the pilot added 25 gallons of fuel for the planned 43-mile (direct) flight. This increased the airplane's gross weight to within 34 pounds of its maximum certificated gross weight. The pilot heard the airport's automated weather broadcast that the density altitude was at least 8,100 feet. The pilot did not consult the available Piper "Owner's Handbook" that indicated the maximum elevation published for takeoff was for a 7,000-foot density altitude condition. At this altitude, about 3,800 feet are required to takeoff and clear a 50-foot obstacle. At an 8,100-foot density altitude, an undetermined additional distance would be required. The pilot allowed the passenger to perform the takeoff. The passenger held a student pilot certificate, had about 15 hours of total flight time, and had not soloed. The stall warning light illuminated several times during the approximately 2-minute-long flight, and the pilot took over the controls from the passenger. A witness observed the airplane 15 to 20 seconds before it crashed. The witness noted that the airplane was in a nose high pitch attitude, with its nose 10 to 15 degrees above the horizon. Then, the airplane's nose lowered, and the airplane descended until impacting the guardrail. The pilot subsequently reported that the maximum altitude gained during the flight was about 200 feet above ground level, following which he encountered a downdraft. The airplane's "Owner's Handbook" indicates that at an 8,100-foot density altitude, the maximum rate of climb is about 325 feet per minute. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified during examination of the wreckage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.