# NTSB LAX89LA002: Piper PA-28R-201, N31386, Palmdale, CA, October 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 1988, 10:56 local (17:56 UTC)
- Place: Palmdale, CA
- Coordinates: 34.610576, -118.270599 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6106&lon=-118.2706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26261
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26261/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA002

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, descent
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Midair collision, climb
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

AT APPROXIMATELY 6000 FT MSL TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED IN FLIGHT. N49382 WAS CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE, N31386 WAS DESCENDING IN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDING COLLIDING WITH THE CLIMBING AIRPLANE FROM BEHIND AND TO THE RIGHT. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE ABLE TO LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

AT APPROXIMATELY 6000 FT MSL TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED IN FLIGHT. N49382 WAS CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE, N31386 WAS DESCENDING IN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDING COLLIDED WITH THE CLIMBING AIRPLANE FROM BEHIND AND TO THE RIGHT. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE ABLE TO LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N31386](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31386), registered now, S/N 28R-7837233, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R7837233
- Airframe hours: 1953
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Phoenix Flyers Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1988, 44 hours before
- Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ
- Destination: WJF, LANCASTER, CA

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N49382](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49382-2013-12-04), registration cancelled 2013-12-04, S/N 15283451, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283451
- Airframe hours: 3597
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edwards Afb Aero Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 18, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: EDW, EDWARDS AFB, CA
- Flight plan: Military VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N31386; age 55; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 630 total, 12 in this make and model, 520 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N49382; age 43; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,592 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 3,383 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19881002042651A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881002042651A), Oct 2, 1988: Piper PA28R201, Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage. While descending to land overtook N49382 and hit its wing tip. N49382 was climbing from a afb. Both landed safely.
- [Accident 19881002042652A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881002042652A), Oct 2, 1988: Cessna 152, Palmdale, CA, Substantial damage. Was struck from behind by a descending aircraft,N31386,while climbing on afb departure route. Landed at afb safely.

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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