Piper PA-24-250 accident near Big Bear City, CA

On June 13, 1996, a Piper PA-24-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Big Bear City, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

June 13, 1996

Place

Big Bear City, CA

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250 · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

34.230°N, 116.861°W

NTSB ID

20001208X06019

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 13, 1996, at 1129 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7280P, impacted water 0.5 miles southwest of the Big Bear City, California, airport. The aircraft was destroyed and two passengers were fatally injured, with the private pilot sustaining serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which was destined for Blythe, California. According to family members of the pilot, the flight originated earlier in the day at Blythe. Following a brief stop at Big Bear to board the two passengers, the aircraft was departing from runway 26 (5,850 feet long by 75 feet wide; elevation 6,748 feet) for the return to Blythe. The aircraft was not serviced while at Big Bear. The temperature at the time was 75 degrees Fahrenheit. A witness, whose home is abeam the departure end of the runway and 500 feet to the south, observed the aircraft depart. The witness reported that the aircraft's departure appeared normal and the engine sounded normal until the aircraft was directly over the end of the runway, about 200 feet altitude, when the engine sound completely and abruptly ceased. The aircraft then continued west out of view. Another witness, who was working in a nursery further west and south of the airport, reported that she noticed the aircraft because its flight path was nearer the nursery (further south) than is normal for departing aircraft and it was remarkably silent. She remarked that as she watched the aircraft continue west past the nursery, the aircraft's "chin" pitched up noticeably, after which the left wing

Probable cause

improper preflight by the pilot, by failing to ensure that the fuel selector was positioned to an approved fuel tank with adequate fuel before takeoff; his failure to reposition the fuel selector (per emergency procedures) after the loss of engine power; and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.