Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Warner Springs, CA
On April 4, 1999, a Piper PA-32R-301 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Warner Springs, CA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 4, 1999
- Place
- Warner Springs, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.279°N, 116.601°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001205X00486
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 3, 1999, at 1931 Pacific standard time (PST), a Piper PA-32R-301, N9254Q, collided with terrain during an uncontrolled descent near Warner Springs, California. Assist Business Services, Inc., owned the airplane and was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The personal flight departed Deer Valley Airport (DVT) Phoenix, Arizona, about 1700. The private, instrument rated pilot and his three passengers sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The flight was en route to McClellan/Palomar Field, Carlsbad, California, on an IFR flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at Ramona, California, the nearest reporting station; however, weather conditions at the airplane's cruise altitude and at the impact site are unknown. The main wreckage's location was 33 degrees 09.443 minutes north latitude and 116 degrees 32.976 minutes west longitude. Site elevation, derived from a handheld GPS (global positioning system), was 2,930 feet. The Safety Board Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) listened to recorded radio transmissions between the pilot and the Prescott, Arizona, Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS). The pilot filed a flight plan with the AFSS for an estimated departure time of 1700 PST. He filed for a cruise altitude of 10,000 feet. The route of flight was Deer Valley to the Buckeye VOR (very high frequency omni-directional radio range), Victor 16 to Blythe, Victor 460 to Julian, and vectors to Palomar. The IIC listened to recorded radio transmissions between the pilot and the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Contr
Probable cause
The pilot disregarded his weather briefing and attempted flight into areas of forecast and reported icing and moderate to severe turbulence. The airplane encountered mountain wave activity resulting in an overload condition and in-flight separation of the left wing and stabilator. Mountainous terrain, icing conditions, and turbulence were factors in the accident.
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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.
