- Date
- March 27, 1989, 16:15 local (Mar 28, 1989, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Whitmore, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7293PPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 26219
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight with known forecast IMC along his route.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot received a preflight wx briefing. The briefing forecasted moderate turbulence, icing, and low ceilings in mountainous terrain which was along his route. The pilot departed VFR. He encountered forecast IMC conditions while en route to his destination. The pilot then initiated a climb and contacted ATC for an IFR clearance. ATC cleared the pilot for an instrument approach to an airport other than his destination. During the approach, the aircraft descended below the base of the clouds. The pilot canceled his IFR clearance and attempted to proceed VFR. Mountainous terrain was along his route. According to witnesses, the mountain tops were obscured by low ceilings. The aircraft was seen flying into the clouds. The aircraft crashed into trees in mountainous terrain.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7293P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 242472
- Airframe hours
- 2,190
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-A1D5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Harry L. Stemmerman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 14, 1988 · 270 hours before
- Departed
- H10 · Portland, OR
- Destination
- O89 · Fall River Mill, CA
- Airport
- O89
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 835 total · 692 in this make and model · 775 as pilot in command · 51 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDD, 27 nm away