# NTSB LAX85LA312: Piper PA-34-200T, N29461, Saline Valley, CA, July 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1985, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Saline Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 36.559013, -118.049499 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5590&lon=-118.0495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24768
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA312
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24768/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA312

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT THE PLT OBSERVED A SLIGHT LT ENG FUEL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION. PREVIOUSLY, A SIMILAR FLUCTUATION TO THE RT ENG REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF A LEAKING FUEL LINE. FEARING FIRE BECAUSE OF A SUSPECTED FUEL LEAK TO THE LT ENG, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE FIRST OBSERVED 'SUITABLE' LOCATION. ON SHORT FINAL APCH TO AN UNCHARTED, DIRT, 1300-FT-LONG AIRSTRIP, GUSTY WINDS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE ACFT DROPPED, TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND BOTH MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29461](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29461-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 34-7970254, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7970254
- Airframe hours: 800
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Allen E. Workman, M.D.
- Registered owner: Upper Valley Orthopaedics,
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MMH, MAMMOTH LAKES, CA
- Destination: MMH, MAMMOTH LAKES, CA
- Airport: Chicken Strip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 800 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 109 °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 19850706030279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850706030279A), Jul 6, 1985: Piper PA34200T, Saline Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Landed on strip because of fuel pressure fluctuation. Landed hard, main gear collapsed after hitting rocks.

## Other investigations on N29461 (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 CHI02LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA011), Oct 17, 2001: Piper PA-34-200T (N29461), Ann Arbor, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Factors were the gusty crosswind and the terrain drop-off.

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.