# NTSB LAX76IL036: Piper PA-32, N198GM, Bermuda Dunes, CA, November 18, 1975

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 18, 1975
- Place: Bermuda Dunes, CA · BERMUDA DUNES, CA
- Location: 33.7435° N, 116.2873° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bermuda Dunes, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7435&lon=-116.2873&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 12, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152030
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76IL036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76IL036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-0021  75/11/18   BERMUDA DUNES,CA    PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 2100
        TIME - 0815                    N198GM              PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 782 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        INSTRUMENT RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BERMUDA DUNES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BURBANK,CA                  BERMUDA DUNES,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ENGINE LOADED UP
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 023-067 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           82                                                      330
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- HIT 300FT SHORT OF RWY IN HI SINK RATE. GUSTING TO 25K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N198GM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N198GM), registered now, S/N 32-7440126, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: Bermuda Dunes

## Other investigations on N198GM (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 MIA04CA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04CA006), Oct 19, 2003: Piper PA-32-300 (N198GM), Everglades City, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path during the approach to land, which resulted in him undershooting the runway.

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.

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