# NTSB LAX94LA234: Piper PA-28-151, N32532, Simi Valley, CA, June 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 1994, 20:00 local (Jun 2, 1994, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Simi Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.249763, -118.78025 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2498&lon=-118.7802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28755 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28755/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA234 ## Probable cause THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHTPATH OVER THE RUNWAY DURING INITIAL CLIMB. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF RECENT FLYING EXPERIENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE USED HIS FATHER'S AIRPLANE TO PRACTICE FLYING IN PREPARATION FOR THE FAA FLIGHT EXAM. HE LANDED ON A DIRT AIRSTRIP AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT, AS THE AIRPLANE WAS LIFTING OFF AT AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 70 KNOTS, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE NEAR THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD NOT RECEIVED DUAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION IN 5 MONTHS, AND HAD NOT RECEIVED A LOGBOOK ENDORSEMENT AUTHORIZING SOLO FLYING IN 7 MONTHS. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 1994, at 2000 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 151, N32532, registered to the pilot's father, collided with a tree during initial climb from an uncontrolled dirt airstrip near Simi Valley, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the solo instructional flight, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, Santa Monica, California, at 1815. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that as the airplane was lifting off, at an airspeed of about 70 knots, he drifted left of the runway and the airplane's left wing collided with a tree. Thereafter, the airplane spun around and hit the ground hard. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated, and the airplane came to a stop adjacent to the airstrip pointed in the opposite direction from takeoff. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and the accident was just his "pilot error." Regarding the pilot's flying experience, the pilot reported that he had logged about 73.1 hours of dual flight instruction and about 16.5 hours of solo pilot flight time. The pilot reported that he last received a logbook endorsement for solo flying in November of 1993. His last flight in an airplane was in the accident airplane, and that flight was made with his flight instructor on January 12, 1994. In the pilot's completed Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1, he indicated that during the accident flight he had been practicing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32532](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32532-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 28-7515178, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7515178 - Airframe hours: 2877 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Craig M. Cordial - Registered owner: James E. Cordial - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 1993, 31 hours before - Departed: SMO, SANTA MONICA, CA - Airport: Pvt Dirt Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 90 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19940601017139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940601017139A), Jun 1, 1994: Piper PA28151, Simi Valley, CA, Substantial damage. During practice for Private flight test allowed aircraft drift off center line of strip. Wing struck trees. ## Other investigations on N32532 (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 SEA77FTA13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FTA13), Feb 20, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N32532), Plentywood, MT, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.