# Accident 20151017019249A: Piper PA-28R-180, Palm Springs, CA, October 17, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2015, 15:52 local time
- Place: Palm Springs, CA
- Airport: Palm Springs International
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1164° N, 116.7069° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1164&lon=-116.7069&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4972J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4972J-2018-04-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA014) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151017019249A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED PALM SPRINGS (PSP) AIRPORT AT APPROX. 15:20 LOCAL TIME ENROUTE TO SANTA BARBARA.  PSP RADAR SHOWED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF 360 DEGREE CLIMBING TURNS NEAR SAN GORGONIO MOUNTAIN.  AT APPROX. 15:52 THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE EAST SIDE OF THE SAN GORGONIO MOUNTAIN HEADING NORTH WEST (APROX 330 DEG. MAGNETIC.) THE ELEVATION OF THE IMPACT WAS AT APPROX. 7,140 FT.

THE IMPACT WAS AT HIGH VELOCITY WITH ALL DEBRIS FORWARD OF THE IMPACT AREA.  NEITHER THE ENGINE NOR THE PROPELLER DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE ANGLE OF THE TERRAIN (APPROX. 25 DEG UPHILL SLOPE). THE ATTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS SLIGHT NOSE UP.  THE FORWARD HALF OF THE FUSELAGE WAS COMPLETELY INCINERATED BACK TO THE REAR SEATS.

## 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 WPR16FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA014), Oct 17, 2015: Piper PA 28R-180 (N4972J), Morongo Valley, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot's improper inflight decision-making to attempt to outclimb clouds along his planned route rather than reverse course, which resulted in his inadvertent entry into…

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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