# NTSB LAX90FA084: Piper PA-46-350P, N8888M, Bakersfield, CA, February 6, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1990, 15:48 local (23:48 UTC)
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Coordinates: 35.540706, -118.909057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5407&lon=-118.9091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26612/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA084

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACTIVATE THE PITOT HEAT BEFORE FLYING AT AND ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), FOLLOWED BY HIS IMPROPER RESPONSE TO ERRONEOUS AIRSPEED INDICATIONS THAT RESULTED FROM BLOCKAGE OF THE PITOT TUBE BY ATMOSPHERIC ICING.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - climb - performed, pilot in command
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - pitot/static system - ice (cause)
  - anti-ice/deice system - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - false indication (cause)
  - level off - initiated, pilot in command
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - stabilizer - overload
  - stabilizer - separation
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BFR TKOF, PLT WAS ADZ OF IFR CONDS ALONG 1ST PART OF ROUTE, WITH FLT PRCTNS FOR OCNL MOD TURBC BLO 15,000' & MIXED ICG FM FRZG LVL (6000') TO 18,000'. HE FILED IFR FLT PLAN WITH CRUISE ALT OF 11,000'. DRG DEP, PLT WAS CLRD TO CLIMB TO 9000' & TOLD TO EXPECT CLNC TO 11,000', 5 MIN LTR . RADAR DATA SHOWED, ACFT CLIMBED AT ABT 1500'/MIN & 100 KTS, SLOWING SLIGHTLY ABV 8000'. AT ABT 9000', ACFT STARTED TO LVL & ACCELERATE. IT THEN CLIMBED MOMENTARILY, DEVIATED LATERALLY FM COURSE & ENTERED STEEP DSCNT. IN-FLT BREAKUP OCCURRED & WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVR 4100' AREA. TRAJECTORY STUDY SHOWED BREAKUP OCCURRED BTN 4500' & 6500' AS ACFT WAS IN STEEP DSCNT IN EXCESS OF 266 KTS. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF WINGS & STA- BILIZERS REVEALED FEATURES TYPICAL OF OVERSTRESS SEPN; NO PREEXISTING CRACKS OR DEFECTS WERE FND. THE ACFT WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED. PLT'S SON INDCD PRINCIPAL PRBLM WAS 'TWENTY YEAR LEAP IN TECHNOLOGY' FM PREVIOUSLY OWNED PA-24, THAT PLT HAD DIFFICULTY WITH AVIONICS & FLT DRCTR/AUTOPLT, & THAT HE LACKED DETAIL TRNG IN AUTOPLT EMERGENCIES. (SEE:NTSB/SIR-92/03)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8888M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8888M-1990-12-04), registration cancelled 1990-12-04, S/N 4622091 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-350P
- Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46-22091
- Airframe hours: 62
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: James W. Hager
- Registered owner: Hagar Family Trust
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 1989, 62 hours before
- Departed: PTV, PORTERVILLE, CA
- Destination: L12, REDLANDS, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,155 total, 51 in this make and model, 8,006 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BFL, 18 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 19900206001709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900206001709A), Feb 6, 1990: Piper PA46350P, Bakersfield, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost control area icing and turbulence. Wreckage indicates spiral dive & airframe failure. Prior pitch trim problem.

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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