20041110029849A

(-23) On November 10, 2004, about 2200 pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N803ZG, cruised into trees and rising mountainous terrain about 17 nautical miles (NM) north of Santa Barbara, California. J.p. iii, enterprises, inc., operated the airplane, and it was piloted by its owner. The airplane was destroyed during multiple impacts with trees and terrain, and by the post impact ground fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at both the departure and destination airports. Undetermined meteorological conditions existed at the accident site, in a wilderness area of the los padres national forest. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. The noninstrument rated private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured during the dark nighttime business flight. One of the passengers was a noncertificated student pilot. The flight originated from bakersfield, California, at 2136. According to the federal aviation administration (FAA), minutes following the airplane's departure from the meadows field in bakersfield, the airplane was assigned a discrete transponder code and was radar identified. The pilot requested and commenced receiving visual flight rules (VFR) radar flight following service from the faa's los angeles air route traffic control center (ARTCC). Preliminary radar data indicates that following takeoff the pilot proceeded toward the Santa Barbara municipal airport, his home base, on nearly a direct route paralleling federal airway V183. The FAA reported that all communications to and from the pilot were routine. No witnesses reported observing the accident. The accident time was estimated, and it was based upon the loss of radio and radar contact with the southbound airplane. The civil air patrol found the wreckage, which was within 2 miles of the airplane's last recorded radar position. U.S. Forest service personnel reported to the national transportation safety board's investigator-in-charge that estimated 40-foot-tall fir trees were observed at global positioning satellite (GPS) coordinates of 34 degrees 41 minutes 44.9 seconds north latitude by 119 degrees 38 minutes 45.7 seconds west longitude. Two trees, about 20 feet apart and near this location on the north side of a ridgeline, were observed with the upper 10 feet (estimated distance) of their trunks severed. The approximate elevation at the points of severance was 6,630 feet mean sea level (MSL), which was a few yards from the top of the ridgeline. The airplane's left wing, a main landing gear wheel, and other debris were located on the mountaintop, yards south of these trees. The safety board investigator's measurements indicate that the magnetic bearing from the severed trees to the Santa Barbara municipal airport was about 197 degrees. The safety board investigator's on-scene examination of the accident site revealed a principal ground scar oriented in a north-to-south direction, commencing approximately 0.21 NM south (198 degrees, magnetic) of the severed trees. The ground scar consisted of an estimated 75-foot-long swath devoid of native vegetation, on estimated 28-degree downsloping terrain. Two of the airplane's three propeller blades were observed partially underground in this area, along with fragmented fuselage skin panels. The main wreckage was located at GPS coordinates of 34 degrees 41 minutes 33.8 seconds north latitude by 119 degrees 38 minutes 54.3 seconds west longitude, and at an estimated elevation of 6,030 feet MSL. The approximate distance and magnetic bearing from the severed trees to the main wreckage is 0.22 NM and 199 degrees. The main wreckage principally consisted of the following components: (1) aft empennage with attached stabilator, vertical stabilizer, and attached rudder assembly; (2) left wing and flap; (3) fire-destroyed cockpit and cabin; (4) fire-destroyed instrument panel; and (5) engine assembly with attached propeller hub including one attached propeller blade (less tip).