Accident · 1988-09-18

NTSB case LAX88FA321 · PIPER PA-28-140 · Part 91

What the record says

Event date: 1988-09-18
Event type: Accident
Highest injury level: Fatal injury
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-140 (N55478)
Operating rule: Part 91
Operator: CAL STATE FLYING CLUB Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report): CAL STATE FLYING CLUB

Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION, THE AIRCRAFT'S EXCESSIVE WEIGHT AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LEAN THE MIXTURE. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION TO AFFECT RECOVERY FROM THE DEVELOPING STALL, HIS POOR JUDGEMENT, HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS IMPAIRED PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION AS IT RELATED TO HIS LACK OF SLEEP AND DRUG USE.

Source: NTSB case LAX88FA321

Flight crew

Flight-crew details for this event aren't in the NTSB database extract we hold (its coverage starts with 2008 events) — a gap in our data, not an absence of crew.

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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