Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Beaumont, California 92223
Tuesady, April 15, 1986 22:25 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHEN THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT DEPARTED FOR THE FLT AT ABOUT 2110 HRS, THE WX CONDITIONS WERE MARGINAL AND DETERIORATING IN THE AREA. NO RECORD OF A WX BRIEFING WAS FOUND. FOR UNKN REASONS, THE PLT WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT AFTER ABOUT 1 HR AND 20 MNS, ENTERED THE BANNING PASS FROM THE EAST AND ENCOUNTERED CEILINGS OF APRX 500 FT AGL AND VISIBILITIES OF 1 MI OR LESS IN FOG AND DRIZZLE. BY THE TIME THE PLT CONTACTED THE NORTON AFB ATCT, HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEARLY LOCATE HIS POSITION IN THE DARKNESS AND RESTRICTED VISIBILITIES. THE RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM THE PLT, 'WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING IN VFR WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CLIMB AND GET ABOVE THIS (WEATHER)' ESTABLISHED HIS INTENTION TO TRY AN INSTRUMENT CLIMB THROUGH THE CLOUDS TO FIND VFR CONDITIONS. THE WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ENTER THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS THEN DESCEND 'STRAIGHT DOWN OUT OF THE CLOUDS.' THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT THE SITE ESTABLISHED THAT THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND IN AN ATTITUDE CONSISTANT WITH A RIGHT SPIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/15/1986
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2225
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City BEAUMONT
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92223
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 4
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 Witness
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 Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2242
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 15 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32860
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N28891
NTSB Number LAX86FA178
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7990426
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Mar 27 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 1944
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE E. LEWIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1391 CRESTWOOD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City REDLANDS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92373
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name REDLANDS AVIATION, INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1745 SESSUMS DRIVE
Operator City REDLANDS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92373
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 L12
Departure City REDLANDS
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 2110
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PO6
Destination City BULLHEAD CITY
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --