# NTSB LAX94LA366: Piper PA-28R-201, N30150, Fort Bragg, CA, September 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 1994, 18:20 local (Sep 17, 1994, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Fort Bragg, CA - Coordinates: 39.490421, -123.740074 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4904&lon=-123.7401&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28862 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA366 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28862/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA366 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to adequately anticipate and compensate for the existing crosswind/windshear conditions during the takeoff initial climb. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - windshear - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER AN IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED ABOUT 3/4 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE STALL WARNING SOUNDED AT 80 KNOTS AS THE PILOT REACHED FOR THE LANDING GEAR LEVER. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING DROPPED TO A 10- DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK, FOLLOWED BY A 60-DEGREE RIGHT ROLL. THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED AND COLLIDED WITH TREES IN A 30-DEGREE RIGHT BANK. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN A CLEAR AREA SURROUNDED BY TALL TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING AN OFFSHORE BREEZE FROM HIS RIGHT ONCE THE AIRPLANE CLEARED THE TOPS OF THE TREES. ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT QUANTIFY THE WIND SPEED, HE DID STATE THAT THE WINDS ON THE AIRPORT SURFACE WERE CALM, WHILE THE LOW LEVEL CLOUDS WERE MOVING VERY FAST AT THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE TREE LINE. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 1994, at 1820 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N30150, collided with trees after an in-flight loss of control during the takeoff climb from runway 16 at the Fort Bragg Airport, Fort Bragg, California. The airplane was operated by Sundance Flying Club, Palo Alto, California, and rented by the pilot for a personal flight. The airplane was destroyed in the collision sequence. The certificated private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Two other passengers received serious injuries. The flight to Fort Bragg originated from San Carlos, California, at 1615 hours and the pilot was returning to San Carlos at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot indicated the airplane stalled about 3/4 mile from the departure end of runway 16. The pilot heard the stall warning sound at 80 knots of airspeed as he was reaching for the landing gear lever. The airplane's left wing dropped to a 10-degree angle of bank, followed by a 60-degree right roll. The airplane settled and collided with trees in a 30-degree right bank. The pilot also stated he encountered an offshore breeze from his right once the airplane cleared the trees surrounding the airport. He did state that the winds on the airport surface were calm, while low-level clouds were moving very fast at the western end of the tree line. He reported no mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30150](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30150-1997-03-26), registration cancelled 1997-03-26, S/N 28R7837312 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7837312 - Airframe hours: 5165 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-CIC6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sundance Flying Club - Registered owner: Lyons, Mark F. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 13, 1994, 45 hours before - Destination: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA - Airport: 8Q3, Fort Bragg Airport, runway 16, 1,800 × 15 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 84 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ACV, 95 nm away ## 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 19940916028099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940916028099A), Sep 16, 1994: Piper PA28R201, Fort Bragg, CA, Destroyed. Stalled into trees on climbout. 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.