# NTSB LAX92FA351: Piper PA-20-135, N1974A, Fort Bidwell, CA, August 16, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1992, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Fort Bidwell, CA
- Coordinates: 41.880966, -120.109283 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8810&lon=-120.1093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA351
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27447/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA351

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT STALL WHILE MANEUVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A PIPER PA 20-135 COLLIDED WITH UPWARD SLOPING TERRAIN. THE PILOT TOLD A FIREMAN, THAT HE WAS SEARCHING FOR A HUNTING AREA IN THE REGION AND SAW A HERD OF ANTELOPE.  HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO TRACK THE HERD AND SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE IN THE TURN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1974A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1974A-1993-04-06), registration cancelled 1993-04-06, S/N 20883 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20-883
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Green, Morley S.
- Registered owner: Green, Morley S.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1991
- Departed: O59, CEDARVILLE, CA
- Destination: O59

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 470 total, 372 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Observed at: 4LW, 33 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 19920816031459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920816031459A), Aug 16, 1992: Piper PA20135, Fort Bidwell, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled during steep turn at low altitude to follow a herd of antelope. Fire erupted causing two fatalities.

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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