# NTSB LAX91LA212: Piper PA-28-181, N4291V, Catalina Island, CA, May 12, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1991, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Catalina Island, CA
- Coordinates: 33.380718, -118.449142 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3807&lon=-118.4491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27206
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA212
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27206/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA212

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND INTENTIONAL LOW FLYING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE CRUISING INTO THE WATER.  A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR RELATED TO THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - landing gear,wheel - separation
  - landing gear,nose gear strut - bent
  - light condition - daylight
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT THE PILOT, AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS FLEW FROM CATALINA TO SAN DIEGO, CA.  DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND TO THE EARTH'S SURFACE.  THE NOSE WHEEL AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL COLLIDED WITH THE WATER.  AS A RESULT, THE NOSE GEAR BENT AFT AND THE LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE STRUT. THE IMPACT ALSO RESULTED IN THE STRUT'S WING ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY BEING PUSHED UPWARD THROUGH THE CAMBERED SURFACE OF THE WING.  THE PILOT ORIGINALLY ASSERTED THAT THE MISHAP OCCURRED DURING A ROUGH TAKEOFF.  THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY ASSERTED THAT THE DAMAGE OCCURRED UPON COLLIDING WITH THE OCEAN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4291V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8390023
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Plus One Flyers, Inc.
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: AVX, AVALON, CA
- Destination: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; flight hours: 802 total, 124 in this make and model, 701 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19910512015219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910512015219A), May 12, 1991: Piper PA28181, Catalina Island, CA, Substantial damage. Low over ocean en route to san diego allowed contact with water separating left main gear. Drove strut through wing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.