Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

White Hills, Arizona 89005
Tuesady, December 30, 1997 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

When the pilot failed to return from a local flight a search was initiated and the aircraft was found about 3 miles southeast of the departure airstrip. The aircraft collided with near level desert terrain at a 45-degree angle with no signs of rotation. The engine and accessories were examined and determined to be free of discrepancies. One propeller blade exhibited signs of rotation. A tachometer needle imprint was found about 975 rpm. An unquantified amount of fuel was present in the left wing fuel tank. The fuel system was approved for and operating on automobile gasoline. Internal fuel hose deteoriation was present obstructing a fuel sight gauge vent line and coupling hoses. Minor contamination was present in the fuel gascolator bowl along with a rust-colored water line. The aircraft was being operated without the front seat. Both rear seat belt attach points (.090 steel wire around 4130 steel tubing) had separated. No shoulder harness was installed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 0
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WHITE HILLS
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89005
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID IGM
Elevation of weather observation facility 3446
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1691
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 30 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1829
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5532H
NTSB Number LAX98FA064
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-11
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-11
Aircraft Serial Number 11-1035
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES R. DUFRESNE
Aircraft Owner Street Address HC 37 BOX 97916
Aircraft Owner City GOLDEN VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86413
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City TRIANGLE AIRPRK
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --