- Date
- December 11, 1991, 03:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place
- San Andreas, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6522FPiper PA34-200T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911211055709A
- Case key
- 27518
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 failure of the nonmultiengine/instrument rated pilot in command to accomplish the proper emergency procedure during a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper training, lack of instrument experience, heavy fog reported in the accident area at the time of the accident and the undetermined loss of power.
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 twin engine Piper pa 34-200T collided with trees in hilly terrain 8 miles southwest of the airport after taking off in foggy conditions. The nonmultiengine/instrument rated certificated private pilot reported he lost power in the left engine and did not perform the emergency procedures for the loss of engine power. Examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical failures or malfunctions. Subsequent investigation of the pilot revealed that his medical certificate had expired, he did not have a airplane multi-engine class rating, an instrument airplane rating or proof of a current biennial flight review. Review of the pilot's airmen records, retained by the FAA in Oklahoma city, Oklahoma, revealed three previous suspensions of the pilot's private pilot certificate for violations of the federal aviation regulations. The most recent third class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on may 4, 1983, and had expired.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6522F
- Reported as
- Piper PA34-200T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 34-7770031
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-E, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ponte, Dennis S.
- Registered owner
- Ponte, Dennis S.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- Q99 · San Martin, 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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.