# NTSB LAX89LA135: Piper PA-34-200, N4374T, Lake Elsinore, CA, March 24, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 24, 1989, 12:03 local (20:03 UTC)
- Place: Lake Elsinore, CA
- Location: 33.6681° N, 117.3273° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake Elsinore, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6681&lon=-117.3273&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26359
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26359/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA135

## Probable cause

CFI DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT IN HIS DEMONSTRATION OF SINGLE ENGINE OPERATION OF A TWIN ENGINE ACFT. HIS LACK OF SUPERVISION OF AN IMPROPER, DETERIORATING SITUATION ASSURED AN UNSUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - 1 engine
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command(cfi)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - go-around - delayed, dual student (contributing factor)
  - climb - not attained, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF A PA-34-200 ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A SINGLE ENGINE GO-AROUND AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN NEAR LAKE ELSINORE, CA. THE CFI STATED THAT HE HAD SHUTDOWN THE LEFT ENGINE AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER TO DEMONSTRATE, TO THE STUDENT, SINGLE- ENGINE PROCEDURES AND PERFORMANCE. THE CFI THEN TOLD HIS STUDENT TO PERFORM A SINGLE-ENGINE LANDING. THE STUDENT WAS HIGH AND FAST ON FINAL. THE STUDENT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND BUT, THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND WITH A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT BUT, WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL IN GAINING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR POWER LINES THAT WERE LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE CFI DESCENDED THE ACFT AND FLEW UNDER THEM. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED INTO A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB BUT NOT ENOUGH TO CLEAR HOUSES IN THEIR FLIGHT PATH. THE CFI ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4374T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4374T-1992-03-17), registration cancelled 1992-03-17, S/N 347250080 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7250080
- Airframe hours: 4310
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C-1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Steve Mayes
- Registered owner: Steve Mayes
- Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 1988, 105 hours before
- Departed: L66, CONCORD, CA
- Airport: L49, Skylark, runway 11, 2,575 × 80 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,760 total, 130 in this make and model, 3,700 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °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 19890324004549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890324004549A), Mar 24, 1989: Piper PA34200, Lake Elsinore, CA, Substantial damage. Gave student engine out landing with prop feathered. Too high,tried to go around on one engine. Hit a horse corral.

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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