# Accident 19971230039719A: Piper PA11, White Hills, AZ, December 30, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 30, 1997
- Place: White Hills, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.7369° N, 114.3565° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7369&lon=-114.3565&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5532H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5532H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-11 (registry code 7101102, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA11
- Reported engine: CONT C908F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 230 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA064) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971230039719A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO RETURN FROM A LOCAL FLIGHT A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH NEAR LEVEL DESERT TERRAIN AT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE WITH NO SIGNS OF ROTATION.  THE ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES WERE EXAMINED AND DETERMINED TO BE FREE OF DISCREPANCIES.  ONE PROPELLER BLADE EXHIBITED SIGNS OF ROTATION.  A TACHOMETER NEEDLE IMPRINT WAS FOUND ABOUT 975 RPM.  AN UNQUANTIFIED AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK.  THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS APPROVED FOR AND OPERATING ON AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE. INTERNAL FUEL HOSE DETEORIATION WAS PRESENT OBSTRUCTING A FUEL SIGHT GAUGE VENT LINE AND COUPLING HOSES.  MINOR CONTAMINATION WAS PRESENT IN THE FUEL GASCOLATOR BOWL ALONG WITH A RUST-COLORED WATER LINE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED WITHOUT THE FRONT SEAT.  BOTH REAR SEAT BELT ATTACH POINTS (.090 STEEL WIRE AROUND 4130 STEEL TUBING) HAD SEPARATED.  NO SHOULDER HARNESS WAS INSTALLED.                                                                     (-23)AIRCRAFT APPARENTLY HAD ENGINE STOPPAGE AND STALLED, IMPACTING THE GROUND AT ABOUT A 45 ANGLE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA064), Dec 30, 1997: Piper PA-11 (N5532H), Willow Beach, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft for undetermined reasons.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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