# NTSB WPR21LA245: Piper PA-28-235, N15381, Big Bear City, CA, June 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 22, 2021, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Big Bear City, CA - Coordinates: 34.263778, -116.85602 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2638&lon=-116.8560&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103355 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103355/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103355 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA245 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate flare and subsequent loss of airplane control during an aborted landing in gusting wind, which resulted in impact with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that immediately upon touchdown on runway 26, the airplane ballooned, possibly the result of an unexpected gust. As the airplane ascended, he noted the airplane drifted to the right of runway center line and he initiated a go-around. The pilot said that the airplane began a steep bank to the right as he advanced the throttle. As the wings leveled, the airplane was headed towards a tree line, and he noted that impact with trees was imminent. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and a postimpact fire destroyed the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was wind from 200° at 10 knots with gusts to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15381](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15381-2022-10-01), registration cancelled 2022-10-01, S/N 28-7310040, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7310040 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2915 - Engines: Lycoming 0-540-B4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 2021, 5 hours before - Departed: KCCB, Upland, CA - Destination: L35, Big Bear, CA - Airport: L35, Big Bear City, runway 26, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 269 total, 218 in this make and model, 4.4 in the last 90 days, 4.4 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KL35 - METAR: KL35 222135Z AUTO 20010G16KT 174V254 10SM SCT120 23/00 A3027 RMK AO2 ## 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 20210622013179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210622013179A), Jun 22, 2021: Piper PA-28-235, Big Bear, CA, Destroyed. N15381, while landing on runway 26 at Big Bear city airport (L35), crashed in a vacant lot [privacy data omitted]. During the landing flare, the pilot noted… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103355. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12577785&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA245%20Pilot%20NTSB%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12577678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photo-Rel.pdf 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.