# NTSB LAX92FA058: Piper PA31-350, N350MR, Temple Bar, AZ, December 10, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 1991, 16:42 local (23:42 UTC)
- Place: Temple Bar, AZ
- Coordinates: 36.019622, -114.289299 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0196&lon=-114.2893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27393
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27393/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA058

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION BY NOT ELECTING TO PROCEED TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT AND TO CONTINUE TO THE FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.  THE LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES ACROSS THE FLIGHT ROUTE AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMUTER FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE TO ITS HOME AIRPORT AND OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS AND RAIN SHOWERS. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR IFR COMMUTER FLIGHTS.  INSTEAD OF GOING TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONDITIONS AND REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A VISUAL CLEARANCE INTO THE TCA AND ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT HIS ALTITUDE WAS 5100 FEET MSL. HIS RADIO TRANSMISSION BECAME GARBLED DURING THE CLEARANCE READ BACK AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S RADAR TARGET TURN LEFT FROM ITS WESTERLY TRACK AND DISAPPEAR FROM HIS SCOPE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE CONTROLLER.  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION AN ALNOT WAS ISSUED. EARLY THE NEXT MORNING THE AIRCRAFT'S WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IMPACTED IN A MOUNTAIN APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES SOUTH OF COURSE AT AN ELEVATION OF 4100 FEET MSL. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY AND SUCCESSFULLY FLOWN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE IN IFR CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N350MR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350MR-2000-09-20), registration cancelled 2000-09-20, S/N 31-7652100 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 317652100
- Airframe hours: 7433
- Engines: LYCOMING TSIO-540-J2BD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Las Vegas Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Fairchild Federal Credit Union
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 1, 1991, 13 hours before
- Departed: GCN, GRAND CANYON, AZ
- Destination: VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,972 total, 654 in this make and model, 205 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS, 26 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 19911210063089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911210063089A), Dec 10, 1991: Piper PA31350, Temple Bar, AZ, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Flying VFR in VFR conditions struck a mountain side. Mountain tops obscured by clouds. Visibilty restricted in rain.

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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