Mammoth-June Lakes Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mammoth Lakes, California 93546
Friday, November 8, 1985 15:40 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE OBSERVED THE ARPT'S WIND SOCK IN PREPARATION FOR DEPARTURE THE WIND WAS BLOWING DOWN THE RWY WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS THAT DID NOT SEEM OVER 20 KTS. AFTER TAKING OFF & CLIMBING TO ABT 100 FT AGL, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE LIKELY ASSOCIATED WITH A MOUNTAIN WAVE CONDITION. THE PLT STATED & A GROUND- BASED WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ACFT RAPIDLY ROLLED 90 DEG. RT & DESCENDED. JUST BEFORE COLLIDING WITH TERRAIN THE ACFT'S WINGS WERE LEVELED. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED BY THE PLT. 30 MIN AFTER THE CRASH THE ARPT'S SPECIAL WX OBSERVATION LISTED THE PRESENCE OF STANDING LENTICULAR ALTOCUMULUS CLDS IN ALL QUADRANTS, & THE SURFACE WINDS WERE 15 KTS GUSTING TO 25 KTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/8/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1540
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City MAMMOTH LAKES
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93546
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MAMMOTH-JUNE LAKES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MMH
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 7128
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1610 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MMH
Elevation of weather observation facility 7128
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2585
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 8 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1640
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30107
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3096R
NTSB Number LAX86LA036
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-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 2PR-35665
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 28 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 4150
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAUL A. GORDON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1538 WEST HARVARD PLACE
Operator City ONTARIO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91762
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MMH
Departure City MAMMOTH LAKES
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CCB
Destination City UPLAND
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --