Mountain Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tehachapi, California 93561
Saturday, August 24, 2013 16:30 PDT

On August 24, 2013, about 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N32582, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Mountain Valley airport (L94), Tehachapi, California. The pilot/owner and one passenger received minor injuries, and one passenger received serious injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no FAA flight plan was filed for the flight. According to the pilot, he based the airplane at Fullerton Municipal airport (FUL) Fullerton, California. Both passengers were also Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensed pilots, and the three planned to fly from FUL to L94 where they would participate in sailplane soaring activities for the day, and then return to FUL in the late afternoon. The flight to L94 and the day's soaring activities were uneventful. For the return trip to FUL, the pilot conducted the preflight inspection, which was uneventful, as were engine start, taxi-out to runway 27L, and the engine run-up. The takeoff roll and initial climb were also uneventful. Per the procedures at L94, the pilot turned a left crosswind leg to remain clear of sailplane traffic, and exit the L94 area. As soon as the airplane turned southbound onto the crosswind leg, the airplane ceased climbing, and soon began sinking. The pilot ensured that the throttle was full forward and that the mixture was properly set. The pilot did not perceive or observe any engine abnormalities, but he was unable to concurrently maintain adequate airspeed and prevent the airplane from sinking. The airplane impacted terrain nose gear first about 1/2 mile from the departure end of 27L. It struck a chain link fence and came to rest about 105 feet from the initial ground impact point. The ground scar was aligned on a magnetic heading of approximately 210 degrees. The nose gear collapsed, and the left wing sustained substantial damage, but the cabin was intact. The wreckage was retained for subsequent examination. Neither the pilot nor the right front seat passenger was wearing his shoulder harness. That passenger sustained facial fractures and fractured a yoke mount, and had several vertebrae fused as a result of the accident. L94 functioned primarily as a sailplane port. It was situated at an elevation of 4,220 feet above mean sea level (msl), near the south perimeter of a geographic bowl a few miles in diameter. Separation of sailplane and powered aircraft traffic was accomplished primarily by having them fly opposite traffic patterns on the two parallel runways; in this case powered aircraft on 27L used left traffic, while sailplanes on 27R used right-hand traffic. Therefore, the 27L traffic pattern was towards rising terrain, while straight out or right traffic would be over terrain that was the same elevation as the airport. According to the pilot, before the trip, he conducted weight and balance calculations, but he did not conduct any evaluation of the takeoff performance from either FUL or L94. Prior to departure from L94, he obtained weather information via his smartphone, but he did not calculate the density altitude, and he did not conduct any takeoff or climb performance evaluations. Calculations based on recorded meteorological information indicated that the density altitude for L94 about the time of the accident was approximately 6,700 feet. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He reported that he had a total flight experience of approximately 400 hours, including about 200 hours in the accident airplane. FAA information indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1974, and was equipped with a Lycoming O-320 series engine. Maintenance records indicated that the airplane had a total time in service of approximately 3,870 hours, and that the most recent annual inspection was completed in May 2013. The 1635 automated weather observation at Tehachapi Airport (TSP), Tehachapi, located about 2 miles northwest of L94, included winds from 310 degrees at 14 knots; visibility 10 miles; clear skies; temperature 28 degrees C; dew point 4 degrees C; and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury.

Not Yet Reported