# NTSB LAX84FA374: Piper PA-28R-200, N56981, Lone Pine, CA, April 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1984, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Lone Pine, CA
- Coordinates: 36.560272, -118.049514 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5603&lon=-118.0495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23970
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA374
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23970/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA374

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,stabilator - overload
  - flight control,stabilator - separation
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT RETURN FROM A X-COUNTRY FLT, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL HIKERS DISCOVERED THE WRECKAGE ON 6/29/84. IMPACT OCCURRED AT ABOUT THE 9000 FT LEVEL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE OUTER WING PANELS & HORIZONTAL STABILATORS WERE FOUND AT A REMOTE DISTANCE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. AN EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES REVEALED NO PREEXISTING CRACKS. PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE FORCASTED TO BE OBSCURED WITH BROKEN TO OVERCAST CLOUD BASES AT 8000 TO 10,000 FT. CLOUD TOPS WERE FORCASTED TO BE IN THE VICINITY OF 20,000 FT. SNOW SHOWERS WERE EXPECTED ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N56981 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7435069
- Airframe hours: 4074
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Union Flights
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 13, 1984, 70 hours before
- Departed: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA
- Destination: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 100 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIH, 60 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 19840427028069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840427028069A), Apr 27, 1984: Piper PA28R200, Lone Pine, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into high mountain passes where ceiling and visibility poor, with turbulence and freezing temperatures.

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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