- Date
- August 9, 1994, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Warner Springs, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N25871Piper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 27, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940809021059A
- Case key
- 28820
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 pilot's inadequate visual lookout for livestock during takeoff.
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
The pilot elected to make a precautionary landing in an open field, due to adverse weather conditions along his route of flight. After the weather improved, he attempted a takeoff. During the initial takeoff climb, the airplane collided with a cow and crashed.
Factual narrative
On August 9, 1994, at 1445 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-38- 112, N25871, collided with livestock on the initial takeoff climb from a field near Warner Springs, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to Calexico, California. The airplane, registered to Lewis and Helman Inc., D.B.A. Bud Walen Aviation, Van Nuys, California, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and neither the certificated private pilot nor his passenger were injured. The flight originated at Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California, with a planned landing at Perris Valley Airport, Perris, California. The flight departed Perris Valley Airport at 1245 hours.
The pilot indicated in the aircraft accident report, that he elected to make a precautionary landing in an open field due to thunderstorm activity along his intended route of flight. During the approach to the field, he noticed livestock in the area.
After the weather improved, the pilot elected to takeoff. During the initial ground run the airplane struck a cow. The pilot lost control and crashed. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N25871
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-81A0077
- Airframe hours
- 5,900
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2A, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Lewis And Helman Inc., doing business as Bud Walen Aviation
- Registered owner
- Lewis And Helman Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 29, 1994
- Departed
- L65 · Perris Valley, CA
- Destination
- CXL · Calexico, 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
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 315 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.