# NTSB LAX89FA106: Piper PA-24-260, N9240P, Julian, CA, February 12, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 1989, 15:43 local (23:43 UTC) - Place: Julian, CA - Coordinates: 33.020996, -116.490196 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0210&lon=-116.4902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 22, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 26212 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26212/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA106 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT OF INTENTIONALLY FLYING INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY BY ATTEMPTING FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - wing - ice (contributing factor) - horizontal stabilizer surface - ice (contributing factor) - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - stabilizer - overload - wing - overload ## Analysis THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT FIRST FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN BEFORE OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING. LIGHT TO MODERATE RIME ICING WAS FORECAST FROM 5,000 TO 16,000 FT. AT 1541 THE ARTCC CONTROLLER NOTICED THE MODE C ALTITUDE REPORT WAS 1,300 FT LOWER THAN THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF 10,000 FT, AND DESCENDING. THE PILOT RESPONDED TO THE CONTROLLER'S INQUIRY THAT 'I CANNOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE'. AT 1543 RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. AN AIRLINE FLIGHT REPORTED PICKING UP MODERATE RIME ICE WHILE FLYING IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. A GROUND WITNESS REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT A THUNDERSTORM WAS OVERHEAD, ACCOMPANIED BY LIGHTNING, THUNDER, HAIL, AND MODERATE SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. THE WITNESS ALSO HEARD A LOUD 'WINDING UP ENGINE SOUND FOLLOWED BY A LARGE BANG'. THE LAST PITOT STATIC SYSTEM TEST AND CALIBRATION WAS RECORDED ON 7/8/86. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED ABOUT 44 HRS DUAL INSTRUMENT TRAINING DURING THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 1986. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9240P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9240P-1991-01-25), registration cancelled 1991-01-25, S/N 244739 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4739 - Airframe hours: 2879 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John H. Maloney - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 1987, 150 hours before - Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA - Destination: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 620 total, 480 in this make and model, 581 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TRM, 36 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 19890212001969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890212001969A), Feb 12, 1989: Piper PA24260, Julian, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Non IFR rated but filed IFR, flew into a thunderstorm, lost control and broke up in flight. ## Other investigations on N9240P (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 CHI68F0780](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68F0780), May 28, 1968: Piper PA-24 (N9240P), Pontiac, MI, 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.