LAX04LA259

The airplane collided with the terrain following an in-flight loss of control. The pilot completed a series of high speed low altitude passes down runway 26. He was executing another pass, but this time, he was flying at a low speed in a nose high attitude with the gear down and flaps set to 10 degrees. The pilot said that as he neared the end of the runway he initiated a climb by increasing the nose pitch attitude, then adding power; however, the airplane descended to the ground. According to witnesses, as the pilot approached the departure end of the runway in a slow flight attitude the nose of the airplane continued to pitch up. The aircraft continued to fly for a short time in a near stall attitude. The engine rpm increased about 3 seconds prior to impact. The airplane impacted the ground with the main wheels, the nose wheel sheared off, and the airplane came to rest on its nose with the tail up in the air. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.

History of flight

On July 11, 2004, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a North American T28B, N5832X, impacted terrain following a loss of control at Apple Valley Airport (APV), Apple Valley, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Apple Valley about 1500. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 34 degrees 34.31 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 11.10 minutes west longitude.

During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated he was attempting to land on runway 26 when he decided to abort the landing. The airplane was in a slow, nose up attitude. He tried to climb by pulling aft on the control stick, followed by adding power to the engine. Instead of climbing, the airplane continued to descend until it impacted the ground. During the accident sequence, the nose gear was sheared off and the left wing was damaged. The airplane came to rest on its nose with the tail up in the air.

Witnesses reported watching the airplane make numerous low altitude, high-speed passes down runway 26. On the accident approach, the witnesses said that the airplane appeared to be making a low speed flyby when the accident happened. The airplane was observed with the landing gear extended and 10 degrees of flaps. The airplane continued in a slow flight attitude down the runway until it was at the departure end of the runway. The witnesses saw the nose of the airplane continue to pitch up. Witnesses heard the engine rpm increase about 3 seconds prior to impact. The airplane impacted the ground with the main wheels, and then the nose wheel sheared off. The aircraft slid about 100 feet before coming to rest.

There was a sound crew located about the 2,700-foot mark of runway 26. The sound crew was making audio recordings of the airplane as it was conducting the low passes.

The pilot operator submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). The pilot stated that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

The closest official weather observation station was Barstow-Daggett Airport (DAG), Daggett, California, which was located 26 nautical miles (nm) northeast of the accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station was 1,927 feet mean sea level. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for DAG was issued at 1554. It stated: winds from 130 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots; visibility 10 miles; skies clear; temperature 41 degrees Celsius; dew point 13 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.84 inHg.