Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Captinteria, California
Monday, March 8, 1982 8:10 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD SOME HEAD CONGESTION AND HAD EXPERIENCED EAR DISCOMFORT ON THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLIGHT. HE ELECTED TO FLY THE SECOND LEG OF THE FLIGHT IN A CANYON THAT HE THOUGHT WOULD ALLOW PASSAGE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AT LOW ALTITUDE. HOWEVER, THE SELECTED CANYON GRADUALLY NARROWED AND THE TERRAIN ROSE AT A FASTER RATE THAN THE AIRCRAFT COULD CLIMB. BY THE TIME HE REALIZED THE SITUATION, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT AIRSPACE TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN. THE AIRCRAFT BRUSHED THE TOPS OF A FEW TREES BEFORE CRASHING IN THE CANYON. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 4000 FT MSL. THE AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE HAD TO CLIMB TO ABOVE 5000 FT TO GET OUT OF THE CANYON. LESS THEN 100 LBS OF CARGO WAS ON BOARD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/8/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 810
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City CAPTINTERIA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
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 Unknown
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 Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 18
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 50
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 514
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7497J
NTSB Number LAX82FUQ10
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-308959
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 63
Airframe Hours 8303
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CAL AIR CHARTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4700 EMPIRE AVE
Aircraft Owner City BURBANK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CAL AIR CHARTER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4700 EMPIRE AVE
Operator City BURBANK
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OXR
Departure City OXFORD
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 745
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SMX
Destination City SANTA MARIA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
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 --