Redlands Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Redlands, California 92373
Sunday, March 1, 1987 14:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A PLEASURE CROSS-COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS DESCENDING FROM 8500 FT MSL TO 4000 FT MSL WITH POWER REDUCED TO 2000 RPM. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT USE THE CARBURETOR HEAT WHILE DESCENDING. WHEN PWR WAS ADDED, THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. THE PLT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD WHERE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE TEMP WAS 66 DEGS F AND DEW POINT WAS 37 DEGS F. FROM THE FAA CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART, THE ACFT WAS OPERATING IN A SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER RANGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/1/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City REDLANDS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92373
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport REDLANDS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L12
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 1572
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SBD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1157
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 56
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 1 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1515
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32494
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5466W
NTSB Number LAX87LA132
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-28-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-160
Aircraft Serial Number 28-547
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 12 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 2771
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VINCENT J. MAZZELLA
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 2 BOX 558
Aircraft Owner City REDLANDS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92373
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 MHV
Departure City MOJAVO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code L12
Destination City REDLANDS
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --