# NTSB LAX85LA226: Piper PA-32-300, N15420, Oroville, CA, April 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1985, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Oroville, CA
- Coordinates: 39.499351, -121.669288 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4994&lon=-121.6693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24707/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA226

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - control interference - intentional, other crewmember (cause)
  - rudder - not used, other crewmember (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, other crewmember (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - go-around - improper, other crewmember (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, other crewmember
  - object - fence

## Analysis

AFTER OVERFLYING THE ARPT TO EVALUATE LOCAL CONDITIONS, THE PIC ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 01. THE WIND WAS ESTIMATED FROM 330 DEGS AT 15 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KTS. THE PIC REPORTED THAT ON FINAL APCH WITH THE ACFT'S FLAPS FULLY EXTENDED, SHE OBSERVED THAT THE WIND HAD CHANGED FROM A LEFT TO RIGHT X-WIND. THE PIC REDUCED PWR (UNDER DIRECTION OF THE SAFETY PLT), THE AIRSPEED DECREASED & THE ACFT BOUNCED HARD ON ITS NOSE GEAR. THE PIC LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT, & THE SAFETY PLT, THE SPOUSE OF THE PIC, TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT. THE SAFETY PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT LEFT OFF THE RWY. HE STATED THAT HIS SEAT WAS IN A REARWARD POSITION, & AFTER HE APPLIED FULL PWR IN AN ATTEMPT AT GOING AROUND HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUDDER PEDALS. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY & THE SAFETY PLT ABORTED THE ATTEMPTED GO AROUND. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE & CAME TO A STOP IN A PARKING LOT 150 YDS FROM THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15420](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15420-1988-04-07), registration cancelled 1988-04-07, S/N 327340042 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7340042
- Airframe hours: 4800
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael B. Weisman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1985, 16 hours before
- Departed: SNS, SALINAS, CA
- Destination: OVE, OROVILLE, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: OVE, Oroville Muni, runway 1, 5,960 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 131 total, 124 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F

## 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 19850427019929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850427019929A), Apr 27, 1985: Piper PA32300, Oroville, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced several times on landing. Other pilot took over for go around. Seat was back, aborted and ran into fence.

## Other investigations on N15420 (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 LAX78FUG32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUG32), May 21, 1978: Piper PA-32 (N15420), Big Bear City, CA, substantial damage

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.