WPR11LA318

The pilot reported that, during the flight, he was following an interstate highway and that he then turned west to intercept a state highway and head toward his destination. He was flying about 1,000 feet above mountainous terrain when he became lost and disoriented while trying to navigate using maps and GPS. He then thought that the airplane was losing altitude. Subsequently, he concentrated on the terrain rather than direction, decided to make an off-airport landing, and landed the airplane in a dry river bottom. During the landing roll, the nosewheel dug into soft dirt, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident engine and airframe examinations revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

On July 8, 2011, about 1315 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22-108, N4901Z, nosed over during an off airport precautionary landing near Frazier Park, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces. The personal cross-country flight departed Los Banos, California, about 1030, with a planned destination of Lompoc, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he had been following Interstate 5, and then turned to the west to intercept Highway 166 to Santa Maria, California. He thought that the airplane was losing lift, and decided to land in a dry river bottom. During the landing roll, the nose wheel dug into soft dirt, and the airplane nosed over. In a subsequent statement, the pilot stated that he was flying about 1,000 feet above the mountainous terrain. He thought that the engine was running fine, but not producing the power needed for the airplane to maintain altitude. He concentrated on the terrain rather than direction. The mixture was in the full rich position; he did not lean it, and did not recall using carburetor heat. He decided to make an off airport landing. The pilot circled a road, but was not comfortable with landing on it, and decided to land in a dry river bottom next to the road. The Ventura County Sheriff responded to the accident site. The pilot told the responding deputy that he became lost and disoriented over Lockwood Valley using maps and a global positioning satellite system (GPS) to navigate. The pilot stated that the engine began to fail, and he attempted to make an emergency landing when the engine finally quit. The pilot attempted to land on Lockwood Valley road, but was unable to do so and he landed in the river bed. Investigators examined the wreckage at Aircraft Recovery Service, Littlerock, California, on July 11, 2011. Detailed examination notes are part of the public docket. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction for failure that would have precluded normal operation.