# Accident 19981012039999A: Piper PA32R301T, Apple Valley, CA, October 12, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 1998, 09:30 local time
- Place: Apple Valley, CA
- Airport: Holiday Ranch Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5706° N, 117.1507° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5706&lon=-117.1507&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4316L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4316L-2001-07-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301T (registry code 7103220, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R301T
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540S1AD
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 583 total, 32 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA012) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981012039999A

## Narrative

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

(.19)ON OCTOBER 12, 1998, AT 0930 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-32-301T, N4316L, COLLIDED WITH GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FORM THE HOLIDAY RANCH AIRPORT, APPLE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE PILOT PICKED UP TWO PILOTS WHO HAD FLOWN ANOTHER PLANE TO THE PAINT SHOP AND WAS RETURNING TO LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. (.4) THE PILOT WAS PICKING UP TWO PILOTS WHO FERRIED AN AIRCRAFT TO THE PAINT SHOP.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND TAKEOFF CHECKS WERE COMPLETED.  THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY BUT THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THIS TO EITHER THE SAND AND DIRT RUNWAY, OR THE TURBOCHARGER LAGGING.  HE STATED HE DID NOT PUT HIS HEELS ON THE FLOOR AND MUST HAVE INADVERTENTLY MAINTAINED SOME BRAKE PRESSURE AS HE USED THE RUDDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL ALIGNMENT.  THE AIRCRAFT PASSED OVER A DEPRESSION IN THE RUNWAY AND BECAME AIRBORNE MOMENTARILY.  IT SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED OVER A FENCE.  IT CONTACTED A TREE AND THE RIGHT  WING SEPARATED AT THE WING ROOT. THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED ANOTHER 50 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRCRAFT.                                                 (-23) MR. JOHN L. LEWIS STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM HOLIDAY RANCH AIRPORT, APPLE VALLEY, CA THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT ACHIEVE LIFT OFF SPEED BECAUSE HE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE GROUND MOMENTARILY WENT OVER A FENCE STRIKING A TREE TEARING OFF THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST OFF THE END OF THE DIRT RUNWAY. THE PILOT AND TWO OCCUPANTS WERE NOT INJURED.

## 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 LAX99LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA012), Oct 12, 1998: Piper PA-32R-301T (N4316L), Apple Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent use of the aircraft's brakes while using the rudder pedals to maintain directional alignment during the takeoff roll.

## Other reports on N4316L (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19911112060089I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911112060089I), Nov 12, 1991: Piper PA32R301T (N4316L), Grand Forks, ND. Unsafe landing gear light on during approach. Made go-around. Landed safely. Found nose gear down lock switch loose

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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