Porterfield CP-65 accident near Johnson Valley, CA

On August 2, 1999, a Porterfield CP-65 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Johnson Valley, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

August 2, 1999

Place

Johnson Valley, CA

Aircraft

Porterfield CP-65 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

34.330°N, 116.510°W

NTSB ID

20001212X19545

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 2, 1999, approximately 1332 hours Pacific daylight time, a Porterfield CP-65, N32409, collided with terrain while on approach to runway 09 at the private Valley Vista airstrip, Johnson Valley, California. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The private pilot was fatally injured. The personal cross-country flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and originated at the Tehachapi, California, airport, at an unknown time, and was en route to Brownwood, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed, nor were any air traffic control (ATC) services provided. The manager of the Valley Vista airstrip, who resided on the field, returned from an errand and found the accident airplane parked on the ramp. The pilot informed him that while en route from Tehachapi he had noticed a drop in oil pressure during his flight and had landed and "fixed the problem." The pilot did not specify how he fixed the problem, but stated that he was "ready to go," and planned to stop at the Twentynine Palms airport (approximately 35 miles away) for "more gas and oil." The pilot asked the airstrip manager for oil, and was given 6 quarts of 10W30 automotive oil. The manager observed the pilot pour 3 quarts of oil into the oil tank (according to Teledyne Continental the engine's nominal capacity is 4 quarts) and put the additional 3 quarts of oil in the back of the aircraft cabin. The airstrip manager reported that he hand-propped the engine for the pilot and the engine started immediately with no apparen

Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed while attempting to make a precautionary landing, which resulted in a stall/spin and collision with the terrain. A factor in his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed is the pilot's likely diverted attention to the oil loss problem and pending engine failure. An additional factor is the pilot/mechanic's improper installation of an unapprove

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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.