# NTSB LAX91LA220: Piper PA-23-250, N49DB, Gasquet, CA, May 20, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 19, 1991, 19:55 local (May 20, 1991, 02:55 UTC)
- Place: Gasquet, CA
- Coordinates: 41.839138, -123.84999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8391&lon=-123.8500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27212
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA220
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27212/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA220

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT IN A NARROW MOUNTAIN VALLEY IN CONDITIONS OF LOW CEILINGS AND MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - weather condition - clouds
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - obscuration
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD DRIVEN FROM HIS HOME ALONG HIGHWAY 199 ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE HIGHWAY TRAVERSES THE COASTAL MOUNTAIN RANGE THROUGH A NARROW WINDING VALLEY AND IS THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE FROM GASQUET TO YREKA. THE PILOT WAS GOING TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT TO YREKA FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING.  A PILOT WITNESS AT THE AIRPORT SAID THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 6 THEN MAINTAINED ABOUT 200 FEET AGL AS IT FLEW EASTBOUND OVER THE HIGHWAY.  THE WEATHER WAS 600 FT OVERCAST, WITH GOOD VISIBILITY BENEATH.  ANOTHER WITNESS WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT OVERFLEW HIM JUST BELOW THE CLOUDS AT 700 FT AGL.  THE BASES OF THE CLOUDS WERE BELOW THE TOPS OF THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAIN PEAKS.  THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ON THE WESTERN SLOPES OF A 2,800 FT TALL COASTAL MOUNTAIN, LOCATED ADJACENT TO AND SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY.  THE ELEV OF THE SITE IS ABOUT 1,900 FT MSL.  IMPACT MARKS AND DAMAGE TO TREES INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES AND THE STEEP MTN SLOPE IN A LEVEL TO SLIGHT CLIMB ATTITUDE WITH LITTLE BANK ANGLE.  THE LAST ENTRY RECORDED IN THE PILOTS LOGBOOK WAS DATED JANUARY 2, 1990.  ON THE PILOTS APPLICATION FOR HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ON MAY 1, 1991, HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT FLOWN FOR THE PRECEDING SIX MONTHS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49DB-1993-06-14), registration cancelled 1993-06-14, S/N 27161 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-161
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Allen R. Johnson
- Registered owner: Allen R. Johnson
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: 009, GASQUET, CA
- Destination: 105, YREKA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,300 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast

## 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 19910519016599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910519016599A), May 19, 1991: Piper PA23250, Gasquet, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck trees on mountain scud running along highway at dusk. Low ceiling. No recent flights,no preflight or weather

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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