# Accident 20010731018949A: Piper PA28150, Hesperia, CA, July 31, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2001, 00:38 local time
- Place: Hesperia, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.3333° N, 117.3269° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3333&lon=-117.3269&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5346W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5346W-2002-01-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-150 (registry code 7102804, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28150
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA265) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010731018949A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 28, 2001, ABOUT 0038 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28-150, N5346W, OPERATED BY THE PILOT/OWNER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND AT HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND A VISUAL FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT REDDING, CALIFORNIA, AND WAS DESTINED FOR UPLAND, CALIFORNIA.  UPON ARRIVING AT UPLAND, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND DUE TO WEATHER, SO HE DIVERTED TO HESPERIA.  THE PILOT LOCATED THE AIRPORT ROTATING BEACON, BUT WAS UNABLE TO TURN ON THE RUNWAY LIGHTS.  ACCORDING TO THE SOUTHWEST AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTORY, THE NONSTANDARD RUNWAY LIGHTS ARE COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY (123.0 MHZ) CONTROLLED.  WHILE MANEUVERING AROUND THE AIRPORT AREA, THE ENGINE QUIT.  THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND COLLIDED WITH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES.  RESPONDING FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE OUT OF FUEL.  THE PILOT'S FLIGHT PLANNED ROUTE MEASURED ABOUT 484 NAUTICAL MILES.  ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT MANUAL INFORMATION, THE PUBLISHED RANGE IS 510 NAU TICAL MILES. (-23) PILOT DEPARTED REDDING, CA, VFR, APPROXIMATELY 00:38 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME ENROUTE TO UPLAND, CA. PILOT STATED THAT UPON ARRIVING IN THE VICINITY OF THE UPLAND HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CABLE AIRPORT DUE TO LOW CLOUD COVER. HE THEN DECIDED TO PROCEED TO HESPERIA, CA IN ORDER TO LAND VFR. UPON ARRIVING IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GLIDE TO A LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES COMING TO REST IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

## 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 LAX01LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA265), Jul 31, 2001: Piper PA-28-150 (N5346W), Hesperia, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion while maneuvering in an attempt to locate the runway. Contributing factors were the inadequate runway maintenance that resulted in inoperative runway…

## Other reports on N5346W (1)

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

- [Accident 19990313002239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990313002239A), Mar 13, 1999: Piper PA28150 (N5346W), Riverside/Rubid, CA, Substantial damage. Acft was taxiing for take-off when it struck 3 parked acft (registration numbers and types unknown), N5346W has substantial damage, the other 3 acft have minor…

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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