# NTSB LAX88LA142: Piper PA-28-151, N4376F, Valley Center, CA, March 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1988, 13:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Valley Center, CA
- Coordinates: 33.249481, -116.980964 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2495&lon=-116.9810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25974/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA142

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - proper climb rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ROTATE TO A HIGH PITCH ATTITUDE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THEY SAID THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A LEFT TURN & DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. IMPACT OCCURRED ON RISING TERRAIN, BEYOND A GULLY, ABOUT 200 FT EAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 17. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING AN EXAM OF THE ACFT, THOUGH IT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED DURING IMPACT. THE PLT HAD RPRTD 2000 HRS OF FLT TIME DRG APPLICATION FOR A MEDICAL CERT ON 4/29/87. A DRUG SCREEN OF THE PLT'S URINE SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF MARIJUANA METABOLITES. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF HIS BLOOD SHOWED A CARBOXY-THC LEVEL OF 47 NG/ML. A PARTIALLY SMOKED MARIJUANA CIGARETTE, A MARIJUANA PIPE WITH FILTERS & SOME UNIDENTIFIED SEEDS WERE FOUND IN THE CABIN OF THE ACFT AFTER THE ACDNT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4376F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4376F-2013-07-08), registration cancelled 2013-07-08, S/N 28-7715026, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287715026
- Airframe hours: 3408
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barwick, Kenneth D.
- Registered owner: Ken Barwick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1987, 307 hours before
- Destination: L16, HUNTINGTON BCH, CA
- Airport: Blackington (Pvt), runway 17, 2,200 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAN, 34 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 19880328070749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880328070749A), Mar 28, 1988: Piper PA28151, Valley Center, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Nosed up vertically on takeoff stalled and crashed. Marijuana in aircraft and pilots blood. Other drugs in system.

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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