# NTSB LAX92LA063: Piper PA34-200T, N6522F, San Andreas, CA, December 11, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1991, 03:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place: San Andreas, CA
- Coordinates: 38.200416, -120.620445 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2004&lon=-120.6204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27518
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27518/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA063

## 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

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

- Loss of engine power, climb
  - 1 engine
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - improper initial training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6522F-2014-11-12), registration cancelled 2014-11-12, S/N 34-7770031, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7770031
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19911211055709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911211055709A), Dec 11, 1991: Piper PA34200T, San Andreas, CA, Destroyed. Lost left engine on climbout. Trying restart struck trees. No engine defects except poor maintenance. No IFR or MEL

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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