# NTSB LAX04LA090: Piper PA-28R-180, N3820T, California City, CA, January 7, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 6, 2004, 21:00 local (Jan 7, 2004, 05:00 UTC) - Place: California City, CA - Coordinates: 35.151111, -118.01667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1511&lon=-118.0167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: WP-VNY-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58616 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58616/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA090 ## Probable cause the pilot's decision to continue taxiing during dark night conditions without an operable taxi/landing light or taxiway lights and his failure to maintain taxiway alignment. Contributing factors to the accident were the dark night light conditions, the failed landing light, and the lack of taxiway lights. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - to takeoff - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - landing light(s) - failure (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,taxiway lighting - unavailable (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The single-engine airplane encountered a ditch while taxiing for takeoff resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear. The pilot stated that it was a dark night and he was relying on the landing light to help guide him down a taxiway parallel to the runway, as the airport was not equipped with taxiway edge lighting. While taxiing, the landing light suddenly turned off and he was unable to see his outside surroundings. The pilot inadvertently taxied off the left side of the taxiway, where the airplane encountered the ditch located in the dirt median. With the exception of the landing light, no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported. ## Factual narrative On January 6, 2004, about 2100 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180 single engine airplane, N3820T, encountered a ditch while taxiing for takeoff at California City Airport (L17), California City, California. The airplane, owned by Inland Flight Training Center, and rented by the pilot, was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight was intended to depart L17, with a planned destination of McClellan-Palomar Airport (QRC), Carlsbad, California. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported he was attempting to taxi to runway 24. He stated that it was a dark night and he was relying on the landing light to help guide him down a taxiway parallel to the runway; the airport was not equipped with taxiway edge lighting. While taxiing, the landing light suddenly turned off and he was unable to see his outside surroundings. The pilot inadvertently taxied off the left side of the taxiway, where the airplane encountered a ditch located in the dirt median. The right main gear collapsed and the right wing was damaged. The pilot stated that the airplane did not have any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the exception of the landing light. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3820T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3820T), registered now, S/N 28R-30137, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30137 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 Series 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Inland Flight Training - Registered owner: Steven N. Wilson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: L71, California City, CA - Destination: QRC, Palomar, CA - Airport: L71, California City Municipal Airp ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 23, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 231 total, 45 in this make and model, 188 as pilot in command, 96 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: variable at 2 knots - Visibility: 35 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: EDW, 16 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040106004029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040106004029A), Jan 6, 2004: Piper PA28R180, California City, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Piper N3820T was taxiing for takeoff at the California City airport at 2100 PST when the pilot departed the taxiway into the dirt and continued to taxi… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.