OpenAirDocs.org

20070713016279A

Accident · Destroyed
Open the Markdown

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-181 · Lakeside, CA · July 13, 2007

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
July 13, 2007 · 17:30 local
Place
Lakeside, CA
Phase of flight
Low Level Operations
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N38137
NTSB investigation
NTSBLAX07FA219
Reported as
Piper PA28181
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
2
Pilot’s flight hours
0 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days
N38137Registration cancelled May 28, 2010 · Piper PA-28-181S/N 28-7790522Airframe modelPiper PA-28-181

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) On July 13, 2007 at 1701, N38137, a PA-28-181 departed myf. We have not received any radar data on his flight, but the location of the wreckage leads one to surmise he flew over el capitan reservoir past the dam. He then would have flown up through a canyon and surrounding hills that were steeply sloped averaging between 60 to 80 degrees. As he entered the box canyon it appears he executed a right turn and struck the canyon wall at approximately 2,293 feet MSL. Both individuals were found deceased and seat belted in the aircraft. There was no post accident fire. On scene investigation and discussions with an NTSB investigator has led to the conclusion that the airworthiness of the aircraft was not in question. Discussions with a FSDO operations inspector has led us to believe that the pilot may have flown into this box canyon unaware how tight it was. In his haste to exit the canyon he misjudged his departure and struck the canyon wall. (Unable to locate pilot's logbooks to determine his hours in this aircraft as well as his total hours). If any radar date is made available this report will be amended.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JULY 13, 2007 AT 1701, N38137, A PA-28-181 DEPARTED MYF. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RADAR DATA ON HIS FLIGHT, BUT THE LOCATION OF THE WRECKAGE LEADS ONE TO SURMISE HE FLEW OVER EL CAPITAN RESERVOIR PAST THE DAM. HE THEN WOULD HAVE FLOWN UP THROUGH A CANYON AND SURROUNDING HILLS THAT WERE STEEPLY SLOPED AVERAGING BETWEEN 60 TO 80 DEGREES. AS HE ENTERED THE BOX CANYON IT APPEARS HE EXECUTED A RIGHT TURN AND STRUCK THE CANYON WALL AT APPROXIMATELY 2,293 FEET MSL. BOTH INDIVIDUALS WERE FOUND DECEASED AND SEAT BELTED IN THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO POST ACCIDENT FIRE. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION AND DISCUSSIONS WITH AN NTSB INVESTIGATOR HAS LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT IN QUESTION. DISCUSSIONS WITH A FSDO OPERATIONS INSPECTOR HAS LED US TO BELIEVE THAT THE PILOT MAY HAVE FLOWN INTO THIS BOX CANYON UNAWARE HOW TIGHT IT WAS. IN HIS HASTE TO EXIT THE CANYON HE MISJUDGED HIS DEPARTURE AND STRUCK THE CANYON WALL. (UNABLE TO LOCATE PILOT'S LOGBOOKS TO DETERMINE HIS HOURS IN THIS AIRCRAFT AS WELL AS HIS TOTAL HOURS). IF ANY RADAR DATE IS MADE AVAILABLE THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED.

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 LAX07FA219Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportEl Cajon, CAthe pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to attempt low altitude flight operations into a box canyon in mountainous terrain, and his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering to reverse direction, which led to an accelerated stall and spin.Jul 14, 2007 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N38137 · 1

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

Accident 20030425012579AGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Bullhead City, AZ(-23) The pilot was taxiing to parking after landing and attempted to maneuver around a fuel truck. The left wing of the aircraft collided with the fuel tank. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No injuries.Apr 25, 2003 · Substantial damage