Mammoth Lakes Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mammoth Lakes, California 93546
Sunday, December 16, 1984 16:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT TOOKOFF FROM AN ARPT WHOSE RWYS HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR SNOW REMOVAL. A NOTAM HAD BEEN FILED WITH THE FRESNO FSS BY THE MAMMOTH LAKE ARPT MGR AT 0900 HRS FOR TAXI AND RWY SNOW REMOVAL. THE PLT WAS AWARE OF THE NOTAM BECAUSE THE MGR AND A LINEMAN BOTH SAID THEY ADVISED HIM OF IT. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THE PLT ENTER THE ACFT AFTER DECLINING ENG PRE-HEAT OR ACFT DE-ICING. WHEN ADVISED BY THE LINEMAN THAT THE 2 QTS OF OIL THAT THE PLT REQUESTED DID NOT 'REGISTER ONTHE DIP-STICK.' THE PLT ORDERED ANOTHER QT TO BE 'THROWN' IN & 'HURRY UP.' NO PRE-FLT OR WARM UP OR BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECK WAS NOTED BY OBSERVERS. TURNING IMMEDIATELY ONTO THE RWY AND ROLLING FOR TAKEOFF THE PLT PASSED A SNOW PLOW. THE ACFT USED 7000 FT (ALL OF THE RWY) AND LEFT THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ARPT ELEVATION IS 7128 FT MSL. THE ACFT FIRST STRUCK A DIRT MOUND 3/4 OF A MILE AFTER TAKEOFF. AFTER MAINTAINING FURTHER FLT FOR APRX 280 FT WHICH CROSSED A SMALL RAVINE THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE FAR SIDE OF THE RAVINE & STARTED TO BREAK APART, STOPPING 144 FT FURTHER EAST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/16/1984
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City MAMMOTH LAKES
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93546
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MAMMOTH LAKES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MMH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 34
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 7128
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 1600
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) -12
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 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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2912
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26937
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 N601FP
NTSB Number LAX85FA076
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-60-601P
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-60-601P
Aircraft Serial Number 61P059779626
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 6 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1428
Airframe Hours 15974
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAUL MEYER GUYER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4427 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City LOS ANGELES
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90028
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 MMH
Departure City MAMMOTH LAKES
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1559
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BUR
Destination City BURBANK
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 9
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --