# NTSB LAX92FA102: Piper PA28-161, N8432K, Mountain Pass, CA, January 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 25, 1992, 11:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Mountain Pass, CA
- Location: 35.4703° N, 115.5450° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mountain Pass, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4703&lon=-115.5450&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27403
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27403/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA102

## Probable cause

THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRCRAFT'S AIRSPEED ABOVE THE STALL SPEED (VS) THAT RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL/SPIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES TO RETURN TO ITS HOME AIRPORT.  WHILE ENROUTE, THE PILOT OPENED HIS VFR FLIGHT PLAN VIA RADIO WITH FLIGHT SERVICE.  THIS WAS THE LAST CONTACT WITH THE PILOT.  A GROUND WITNESS WHO LIVES IN THE DESERT NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE STATED THAT HE HEARD A NOISE LIKE AN ENGINE CUTTING OUT FOLLOWED BY NOISE RESEMBLING A CAR DOOR SLAMMING.  A SEARCH WAS INITIATED FOR THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT BECAME OVERDUE. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE AND THE FATALLY INJURED PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE FOUND THE NEXT DAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A RIGHT WING LOW, STALL SPIN ATTITUDE.  ALL THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE POINT OF GROUND IMPACT.  THE PILOT OBTAINED HIS PRIVATE PILOT AIRMAN CERTIFICATE TEN MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND HAD LOGGED APPROXIMATELY 85 FLYING HOURS IN THE SAME TYPE AIRPLANE.  THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES FOUND WITH THE ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8432K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8432K-1992-06-03), registration cancelled 1992-06-03, S/N 288116309 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8116309
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Art Scholl Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Art Scholl Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 22, 1991
- Departed: PO6, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
- Destination: L67, RIALTO, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 85 total, 85 in this make and model, 26 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Observed at: LAS, 47 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 19920125001059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920125001059A), Jan 25, 1992: Piper PA28161, Mountain Pass, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Wreckage indicates stall spin accident in remote desert country. VFR conditions.

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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