Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anza, California 92306
Monday, March 23, 1987 9:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A LOCAL SIGHT SEEING FLT THE PLT ENTERED A RIVER VALLEY IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL. AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES, THE PLT DECIDED TO EXIT THE NARROWING VALLEY WITH A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN OVER A RIDGE LINE. ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY UP THE SLOPE, THE PLT REALIZED THAT THE ACFT MIGHT NOT MAKE THE TOP OF THE RIDGE LINE AND THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED TO ATTEMPT TO TURN AWAY FROM THE RAPIDLY RISING SLOPE SAFELY SO HE ELECTED TO MAKE A CONTROLLED LANDING AT NEAR STALL SPEED. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE MOUNTAINSIDE ABOUT 300 FT BELOW THE TOP OF THE RIDGE LINE. THE PLT IS AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PLT ASSIGNED TO FLY LOCKHEED C-141B TRANSPORTS AND ALL HIS FLT TIME IS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE JETS EXCEPT FOR ABOUT 32 HOURS OF GENERAL AVIATION FLT EXPERIENCE OBTAINED 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT SAID THAT HE OVERESTIMATED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ACFT AND HAD NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN SINGLE ENGINE PROP MOUNTAIN FLYING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/23/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City ANZA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92306
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
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1000
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2331
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 23 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1240
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36212
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2439T
NTSB Number LAX87LA155
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 287225073
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 30 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 6116
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VENABLE AIRCRAFT CO
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1678
Aircraft Owner City HEMET
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92343
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 HMT
Departure City HEMET
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
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 Climb
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --