LAX92FA204

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-181 · Cucamonga, CA · May 7, 1992

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Weather condition - obscurationFactor
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Impairment(drugs)Pilot in commandFactor
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor

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.