What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot loaded N32582, a Piper PA-28-140, with approximately 100LBS of fuel and approximately 50 lbs of baggage, and on board N32582 were three individuals: the pilot-in-command, and two passengers, one of which was a rated pilot.
N32582 then attempted a take-off from Mountain Valley Airport (L94) in Tehachapi, CA, with a density altitude of 6,700 feet. Furthermore, there was a westerly wind flow over the hill.
The pilot then turned crosswind into rising terrain, causing the rate of climb to decrease. The aircraft climb rate insufficient to clear the rising terrain.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT LOADED N32582, A PIPER PA-28-140, WITH APPROXIMATELY 100LBS OF FUEL AND APPROXIMATELY 50 LBS OF BAGGAGE, AND ON BOARD N32582 WERE THREE INDIVIDUALS: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, AND TWO PASSENGERS, ONE OF WHICH WAS A RATED PILOT.
N32582 THEN ATTEMPTED A TAKE-OFF FROM MOUNTAIN VALLEY AIRPORT (L94) IN TEHACHAPI, CA, WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 6,700 FEET. FURTHERMORE, THERE WAS A WESTERLY WIND FLOW OVER THE HILL.
THE PILOT THEN TURNED CROSSWIND INTO RISING TERRAIN, CAUSING THE RATE OF CLIMB TO DECREASE. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMB RATE INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE RISING TERRAIN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.