Whiteman Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pacoima, California 91333
Thursday, January 23, 1992 14:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE BAGGAGE DOOR CAME OPEN. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT THE REMAINING RUNWAY WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY STEERED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY TO AVOID A STONE WALL AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR DISCLOSED THAT ITS LOCKING MECHANISM WAS ONLY PARTIALLY ENGAGED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT AND DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNLOCKED NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/23/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City PACOIMA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91333
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WHITEMAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WHP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1000
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 155
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52215
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8662Y
NTSB Number LAX92LA099
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-30
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-30
Aircraft Serial Number 30-1804
Certified Max Gross Weight 3780
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 Oct 20 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 2642
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SMITH, JAMES A.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2016 TONDOLEA LANE
Aircraft Owner City LA CANADA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91011
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SMITH, JAMES A.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2016 TONDOLEA LANE
Operator City LA CANADA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91011
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Takeoff
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 12
Runway Length 3960
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --