Mammoth Lakes Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mammoth Lakes, California 93546
Sunday, April 28, 1996 13:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot performed a static engine run-up, and with no discrepancies noted, he commenced the takeoff. Upon reaching between 25 and 50 feet above the runway during the initial climb, the normal 35 inches of manifold pressure (MP) was observed being produced by the left engine. However, the right engine only produced between 18 and 20 inches of MP. The airplane veered right and settled into the rough/uneven terrain near the airport. The airport's elevation is 7,128 feet mean sea level, and the calculated density altitude was over 8,200 feet. An examination of the right engine's turbocharger assembly revealed the absolute pressure controller was set lower than the manufacturer's specifications required. Also, the wastegate butterfly valve was mechanically binding in its housing and would not fully close.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the partial failure of the right engine turbocharger wastegate butterfly valve to fully close due to mechanical binding and the low setting of its associated absolute pressure controller. A related factor was the high density altitude which reduced the engine's ability to produce adequate manifold pressure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/28/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MAMMOTH LAKES
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93546
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MAMMOTH LAKES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MMH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 7128
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID MMH
Elevation of weather observation facility 7128
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 737
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 29 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 820
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:57AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5752X
NTSB Number LAX96LA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 320
Aircraft Series Identifier 320
Aircraft Serial Number 320-0052
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 4 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 231
Airframe Hours 3059
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MAYNARD L. JENKINS, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14985 OSBORNE CT.
Aircraft Owner City MORGAN HIL
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95037
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 978 HAMPSWOOD WAY
Operator City SAN JOSE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95120
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MMH
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code Q99
Destination City SAN MARTIN
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --