- Date
- May 6, 1992, 19:15 local (May 7, 1992, 02:15 UTC)
- Place
- Cucamonga, CA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1054HPiper PA-28-181
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 4, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920506013569A
- Case key
- 27427
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors in the accident were: the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing, the adverse weather conditions, his physical impairment due to drugs, and the mountainous terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
About 40 mi east of his destination, the pilot called ontario approach for flight following through the ontario arsa. He was asked if he had the current weather for his destination, to which he answered no. he was advised that it was VFR with 3 mi visibility in haze. The pilot requested the ceiling in the l.a. basin, and was advised that la verne was measured 2,300 overcast. Twice during radio exchanges with controllers, the pilot gave altitudes which were off by 1,000 ft or more. He attempted twice to descend through a hole in the overcast without success. He then advised controllers that he would reverse course back to banning. Shortly thereafter he reversed his course back toward la verne. About 6 min later radar contact was lost in the mountains northeast of his destination. About 20 sec before contact was lost the pilot radioed 'its getting pretty thick up here.' The wreckage was located at 3100 ft MSL. Toxicological results were positive for methamphetamine (0.50 mg/l blood), amphetamine, and diphenhydramine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1054H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7790282
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Air Desert Pacific Inc.
- Registered owner
- Lapin,Ari.D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 23, 1992
- Departed
- UDD · Bermuda Dunes, CA
- Destination
- POC · La Verne, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 110 total · 110 in this make and model · 56 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- POC, 13 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.