- Date
- October 27, 1991, 11:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place
- Chiriaco Summit, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3771KPiper PA28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911027048099A
- Case key
- 27485
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 delayed actions of the pilot-in-command in selecting a go-around ND subsequent loss of directional control which resulted in the airplane drifting off the runway centerline and colliding with terrain. Contributing to the accident was failure of the pilot to compensate for wind conditions.
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
A Piper pa 28-140 collided with terrain after a loss of control while landing on runway 24. There was a slight crosswind during the landing attempt. The pilot estimated the wind conditions to be from 300 degrees at 10 knots. During the final approach and landing flare the nose of the airplane weather vaned into the wind. The pilot elected to go-around and lost directional control. The airplane touched down on the let shoulder of the runway and bounced. The airplaane rolled out in sandy terrain collapsing the nose gear and damaging the wings. The pilot indicated there were no mechanical falures or malfunctions with the airplane before the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3771K
- Reported as
- Piper PA28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28 23724
- Airframe hours
- 4,361
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bonak, Steven P
- Registered owner
- Bonak, Steven P
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 6, 1991 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- FUL · Fullerton, CA
- Destination
- L77 · Chiriaco Summit, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- L77 · Chiriaco Summit, runway 24, 4,600 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 77 total · 77 in this make and model · 20 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 12 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TRM, 22 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.
Other investigations on N3771K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.