# NTSB LAX92LA057: Piper PA-34-200T, N36506, Pine Valley, CA, December 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 8, 1991, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Pine Valley, CA
- Location: 32.8415° N, 116.5107° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pine Valley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8415&lon=-116.5107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27513
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27513/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA057

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MONITOR THE PROPER ALTITUDE OVER OBSERABLE RISING TERRAIN.  A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A STRONG DOWNDRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - to cruise
  - light condition - daylight
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - climb - initiated, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, DURING THE INITIAL PORTION OF HIS DAYTIME CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT HE PLANNED TO FLY BENEATH THE BASE OF THE TERMINAL CONTROL AREA (TCA).  AFTER CLEARING THE TCA'S LATERAL BOUNDARY, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND INITIATED A CLIMB FROM HIS 4700 FOOT CRUISE ALTITUDE TO 7500 FEET MSL.  UPON REACHING 5300 FEET MSL, A STRONG DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED.  THE AIRPLANE LOST ALTITUDE AND COLLIDED WITH A 4800 FOOT MSL HILL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36506](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36506-1992-04-16), registration cancelled 1992-04-16, S/N 347870339 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870339
- Airframe hours: 742
- Engines: CONTINENTAL LTSI0-360-EB1 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Neil S. Brown
- Registered owner: Quality Honeycomb, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 1991, 5 hours before
- Departed: SEE, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Destination: FFZ, MESA, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 931 total, 465 in this make and model, 795 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken

## 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 19911208055089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911208055089A), Dec 8, 1991: Piper PA34200T, Pine Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Collided with mountain at 4800 MSL,pilot stated he encountered strong downdraft while climbing to altitude.

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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