Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Hesperia, CA
On August 5, 1997, a Piper PA-28RT-201 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Hesperia, CA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 5, 1997
- Place
- Hesperia, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.360°N, 117.321°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08660
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 5, 1997, at 1348 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28-RT-201, N8227Q, was destroyed when it flew into high voltage power lines approximately 2 statute miles west-southwest of the Hesperia, California, airport. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight which departed from San Jose, California, at approximately 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed along the route of flight and at the destination airport. A witness observed the aircraft execute a go-around from Hesperia airport and noted that the rate of climb appeared slow. The aircraft turned right about 20 degrees and followed a wide depression in the surrounding terrain without any additional gain in altitude. Two witnesses, who were driving along a road that paralleled the aircraft's flight path, stated that the aircraft flew over their vehicle at approximately 100 feet and was observed to jettison three packages, or luggage, out of the right cabin door. Immediately after the third package was jettisoned, the aircraft flew into the power lines and was observed to cartwheel into the ground at which time it caught fire and burned. The witnesses also stated that the engine sounded "normal" and that the aircraft appeared to fly straight and level during the time that it was observed. A verbal statement was taken from a witness whose home underlay the final flight path of the aircraft. She stated that she heard the aircraft fly over and heard the sound of the crash, but did not see the aircraft until after it was on f
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid high voltage power lines, while coping with a lack of engine power during a go-around in a high density altitude condition. Factors relating to the accident were: high density altitude that resulted in a normal reduction of engine power; partial obstruction in the exhaust system that resulted in an additional loss of power; and the encounter with power lines.
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Browse: California · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
