LAX93FA215.html
1993, 2f/2s, within a mile of another airport
Data Source: NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE Report Number: LAX93FA215 Local Date: 05/16/1993 Local Time: 235 PDT State: CA City: GRASS VALLEY Airport Name: NEVADA COUNTY AIR PARK Airport Id: O17 Event Type: ACCIDENT Injury Severity: FATAL Report Status: FINAL Mid Air Collision: NO
Category of Operation: GENERAL AVIATION Aircraft Type: AIRPLANE Aircraft Damage: NONE Phase of Flight: 560 APPROACH Aircraft Make/Model: PIPER PA-28-161 Operator Doing Business As: NAVAJO AVIATION Operator Name: LARON ENTERPRISES, INC. Operator Code: Operator: Owner Name: BLAINE L. THACKER
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS WERE FLYING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO GO ON A CAMPING TRIP. HE SAID THAT HE BECAME DISORIENTED AND APPROACHED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS HIS DESTINATION. HE SAID IT WAS A DARK NIGHT AND THAT HE NOTED THE RUNWAY ALIGNMENT WAS NOT "CORRECT". HE ACTIVATED THE AIRPORT'S RUNWAY LIGHT AND STARTED AN APPROACH TO LAND. DURING THE APPROACH, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE AIRPORT WAS NOT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE SAID HE DECIDED TO LAND AND DETERMINE HIS LOCATION. HE SAID THAT ON SHORT FINAL HE NOTED THAT HE WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND AND HE DECIDED TO MAKE A GO AROUND. THE PILOT SAID HE INCREASED TO FULL POWER AND COULD NOT GET A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. HE SAID HE THOUGHT HE GOT "ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS OUT". HE SAID HE TURNED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN. DURING THE TURN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE FLAP HANDLE INDICATED THE FLAPS WERE FULLY RETRACTED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-EXISTING DEFICIENCIES.
Occurrence #: 1 220 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT
Phase of Operation: 565 GO-AROUND (VFR)
Findings
Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor
1a. 20100(S) - 2305(M) Factor
LIGHT CONDITION - DARK NIGHT
1b. 24536(S) - 3100(M) - 4000(P)
GO-AROUND - ATTEMPTED - PILOT IN COMMAND
2b. 22110(S) - 3137(M) - 4000(P) Cause
RAISING OF FLAPS - PREMATURE - PILOT IN COMMAND
3b. 24506(S) - 3115(M) - 4000(P) Cause
AIRSPEED - INADEQUATE - PILOT IN COMMAND
4b. 24553(S) - 3113(M) - 4000(P) Cause
STALL/MUSH - INADVERTENT - PILOT IN COMMAND
5a. 20200(S) - 2517(M)
OBJECT - TREE(S)
THE PILOT PREMATURELY RAISING THE AIRPLANE'S FLAPS AT AN AIRSPEED INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL MUSH CONDITION. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHT.
Number of Seats: 4
Aircraft Use: PERSONAL
Type of Operation: 14 CFR 91
Domestic/International:
Passenger/Cargo:
Registration Number: 26075
Air Carrier Operating Certificates:
Aircraft Fire: ON GROUND
Injuries
Fatal Serious Minor None
Crew 0 1 0 0
Pass 2 1 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0
Invlvd 2 2 0 0
Landing Gear: TRICYCLE-FIXED
Certificated Maximum Gross Weight: 2440
Engine Make: LYCOMING
Engine Model: O-320-D3G
Number of Engines: 1
Engine Type: RECIPROCATING-CARBURETOR
Basic Weather Conditions: VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) Wind Direction (deg): 0 Wind Speed (knots): 0 Visibility (sm): 10 Visibility RVR (ft): 0 Visibility RVV (sm): 0 Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 20000 Visibility Restrictions: NONE Precipitation Type: NONE Light Condition: NIGHT (DARK) Departure Airport Id: TCY Departure City: TRACY Departure State: CA Destination Airport Id: Q61 Destination City: GEORGETOWN Destination State: CA Flight Plan Filed: NONE ATC Clearance: NONE VFR Approach/Landing: GO AROUND Event Location: OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP
Certificates: PRIVATE
Ratings:
Plane: SINGLE ENGINE LAND
Non-Plane: NONE
Instrument: NONE
Had Current BFR: YES
Months Since Last BFR: 22
Medical Certificate: CLASS 3
Medical Certificate Validity: VALID MEDICAL-WITH WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS
Flight Time (Hours)
Total : 172 Last 24 Hrs : 1
Make/Model : 113 Last 30 Days: 2
Instrument : 4 Last 90 Days: 18
Multi-Engine: 0 Rotorcraft : 0