# NTSB LAX93FA024: Piper PA-24-180, N7902P, Kelso, CA, October 31, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 30, 1992, 19:25 local (Oct 31, 1992, 03:25 UTC)
- Place: Kelso, CA
- Location: 35.0125° N, 115.6536° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kelso, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0125&lon=-115.6536&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93FA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27808/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA024

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING; HIS INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION; AND HIS INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TURBULENCE, RAIN AND LOW CLOUDS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - open field
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A PIPER PA-24-180 COLLIDED WITH LEVEL DESERT TERRAIN. RESIDENTS OF A NEARBY TOWN REPORTED SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE EVENING OF ACCIDENT. THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED A 15 MINUTE ELECTRONIC WEATHER BRIEFING FROM DUAT SERVICES.  THE BRIEFING INCLUDED FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION, ICING, AND TURBULENCE ALONG THE REQUESTED FLIGHT ROUTING. AIRMETS HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CONDITIONS, MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION AND TURBULENCE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING DOWN AND NOSE LEVEL ATTITUDE.  PAPER FROM THE PILOT'S DUAT WEATHER BRIEFING WAS FOUND ON THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.  THE PAPER WAS BURNED IN THE AREA WHERE IT WAS TOUCHING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND WRINKLED FROM BEING WET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7902P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7902P-1993-05-20), registration cancelled 1993-05-20, S/N 24-3132 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3132
- Airframe hours: 5651
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Snider, Danny G.
- Registered owner: Snider, Danny G.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1991, 94 hours before
- Departed: OXR, OXNARD, CA
- Destination: WASHINGTON, OK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,303 total, 80 in this make and model, 1,250 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## 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 19921030044489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921030044489A), Oct 30, 1992: Piper PA24180, Kelso, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Wreckage and weather indicated loss of control en route at night. Forecast for mountains obscured rain,turbulence .

## Other investigations on N7902P (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW67D0251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67D0251), Aug 30, 1966: Piper PA-24 (N7902P), Weslaco, TX, substantial damage

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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