# NTSB LAX91LA009: Piper PA-28-140, N5809U, Agua Dulce, CA, October 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 13, 1990, 13:58 local (20:58 UTC)
- Place: Agua Dulce, CA
- Coordinates: 34.429927, -118.510894 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4299&lon=-118.5109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27042
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27042/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA009

## Probable cause

A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM PREFLIGHT PLANNING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - to cruise
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING INITIAL CLIMB TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN, THE PILOT NOTICED HE WAS NOT VERY HIGH BUT SENSED NO IMMEDIATE DANGER. HE STATED HE PLANNED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH A  LOWER PASS IN THE HILLS BUT NOTICED HIS RATE OF CLIMB WAS VERY LOW AND HE COULD NOT IMPROVE IT. HE STATED THE TERRAIN WAS RISING FASTER THAN HE WAS. ACCORDING TO PIPER AIRCRAFT COMPANY CALCULATIONS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED 3/4/ OF AN INCH FORWARD OF THE MAXIMUM FORWARD CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT OF THE AIRCRAFT. CALCULATIONS ESTABLISHED THAT THE TERRAIN ROSE AT A RATE OF 450 FEET PER MILE WHILE THE MAXIMUM CLIMB RATE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS 375 FEET PER MILE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5809U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5809U-1993-09-27), registration cancelled 1993-09-27, S/N 2826639 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-1926
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: R.I. Flying Club
- Registered owner: Krumm, Gerald J.
- Destination: 4NW, LANCASTER, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 156 total, 88 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °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 19901013045019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901013045019A), Oct 13, 1990: Piper PA28140, Agua Dulce, CA, Substantial damage. Struck hillside trying to outclimb rising terrain after takeoff. High temperature and at gross weight were factors.

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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