20060908024639A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-23 · Orcutt, CA · September 8, 2006

Date: September 8, 2006 · 14:39 local
Place: Orcutt, CA
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3082P
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX06FA289
Reported as: Piper PA23
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 795 total463 in this make and model12 in the last 90 days

N3082PRegistration cancelled Aug 8, 2008 · Piper PA-23S/N 23-1002 · Built 1957 Airframe modelPiper PA-23 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Overcast conditions prevailed. Departed airport (smx) VFR. Accident site approx. 3 miles south of departure airport. Accident site several hundred feet above airport elevation. Ceilings above accident site reported to be 200' to 400' AGL. Aircraft impacted ground at very high angle of descent and in very steep right turn. Impact point was on down-slope portion of hill. Debris field spread over 200 feet from impact point.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) OVERCAST CONDITIONS PREVAILED. DEPARTED AIRPORT (SMX) VFR. ACCIDENT SITE APPROX. 3 MILES SOUTH OF DEPARTURE AIRPORT. ACCIDENT SITE SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET ABOVE AIRPORT ELEVATION. CEILINGS ABOVE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED TO BE 200' TO 400' AGL. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND AT VERY HIGH ANGLE OF DESCENT AND IN VERY STEEP RIGHT TURN. IMPACT POINT WAS ON DOWN-SLOPE PORTION OF HILL. DEBRIS FIELD SPREAD OVER 200 FEET FROM IMPACT POINT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX06FA289Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSanta Maria, CAThe non-instrument rated pilot's decision to continue flight into instrument meteorological conditions resulting in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.Sep 8, 2006 · Destroyed