Piper PA-28-140 accident near Gorman, CA
On October 30, 2000, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gorman, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 30, 2000
- Place
- Gorman, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.794°N, 118.852°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X22202
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 30, 2000, about 0810 Pacific standard time, a Piper, PA-28-140 single engine airplane, N16503, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain near Gorman, California. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The cross-country flight departed General William J. Fox Airfield (WJF), Lancaster, California, about 0740, and was en route to Pearson Field Airport (VUO), Vancouver, Oregon. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the accident site, and no flight plan had been filed. A witness, who was in an automobile, stated he and his passenger had just departed Interstate 5 at Gorman for a break. They observed the airplane flying from north to south over Interstate 5, and initially thought the airplane was operated by the police as a speed trap and was searching for someone on the interstate. The witnesses indicated the airplane began a turn toward the north and was "shaking or vibrating" as it neared a small mountain. The airplane then turned south momentarily, then north. The witnesses described the airplane as shaking or vibrating before it descended and impacted the ground. The witness did not see the airplane's ground impact. Another witness, who was driving south on Interstate 5, stated that he saw the airplane flying 50-100 feet above ground level (agl), flying directly over Interstate 5 in a northbound direction. The airplane looked as if it were going to land on the
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's use of impairing medications.
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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.
