# NTSB LAX92FA201: Piper PA-32-301, N8408V, Camarillo, CA, May 6, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 5, 1992, 22:03 local (May 6, 1992, 05:03 UTC)
- Place: Camarillo, CA
- Coordinates: 34.230552, -119.069496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2306&lon=-119.0695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27425
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27425/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA201

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE, AND HIS FAILURE TO INITIATE A TIMELY CLIMB AFTER BEING GIVEN A LOW ALTITUDE ALERT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION WHEN DRASTIC MEASURES WERE REQUIRED, THE LOW CEILING, DARK NIGHT, AND SURROUNDING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - safety advisory - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING HIS THIRD VOR RWY 26 APCH FOLLOWING TWO EARLIER MISSED APPROACHES. INBOUND FROM THE FAF THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY TURNED TO A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION, 90 DEG LEFT OF THE FINAL APCH COURSE, DESCENDING THRU 1,500 FT. AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1,000 FT THE PLT REPORTED EXECUTING A MISSED APPROACH, AND THE ALTITUDE CONTINUED TO DECREASE. THE CONTROLLER BROADCASTED A LOW ALTITUDE ALERT, AND THE PLT RESPONDED HE WAS CLIMBING. THE PLT TURNED LEFT TO AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, AND THE ALTITUDE HAD LOWERED TO 700 FT. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED HE WAS PROCEEDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, AND THE CONTROLLER STATED '...I SUGGEST YOU AH REINTERCEPT THE VOR FINAL APPROACH COURSE IF ABLE.' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE MOUNTAIN AT 900 FT MSL, 6 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PLLT LIVED 1 MI FROM THE AIRPORT, AND RECEIVED HIS FLIGHT TRAINING FROM AIRPORTS LOCAL TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE PILOT HAD EARLIER TOLD HIS CFI THAT DURING A VOR APCH TO THE AIRPORT AT CIRCLING MINIMUMS HE COULD NOT LOCATE THE ARPT & ELECTED TO LOOK FOR THE ARPT RATHER THAN EXECUTE A MISSED APPROACH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8408V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8408V-1992-08-13), registration cancelled 1992-08-13, S/N 328106077 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301) (registry code 7103207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-8106077
- Airframe hours: 1388
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hollis C. White
- Registered owner: Hollis C. White
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 1992, 21 hours before
- Departed: CNO, CHINO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CMA, Camarillo, runway 26, 6,010 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 365 total, 118 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMA, 5 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 19920505013329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920505013329A), May 5, 1992: Piper PA32301, Camarillo, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. After uneventful IFR flight aircraft crashed into side of mountain on third missed approach.

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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