Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Piper Aircraft; Vero Beach, Florida
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: WPR16FA014
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 17, 2015 in Morongo Valley, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 07/20/2017
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28R-180, registration: N4972J
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger completed a cross-country flight from their home base to another airport in the airplane earlier that day. They delayed their initial planned departure time for that flight due to weather concerns, ultimately arriving 3 hours later than planned. During that flight, they flew over a high mountain range and through a mountain pass.
For the return (accident) flight a few hours later, the weather had deteriorated, resulting in low ceilings along the original route (including in the pass), with high cloud tops and rapidly building cloud formations west and north of the departure airport in the intended direction of the return flight. However, there is no record that the pilot obtained weather information before departing on the return flight.
While on the ground, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he was planning to take a "northern route," which would have taken them around the north side of the east-west mountain range that they had crossed on the inbound leg. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported to air traffic control that, due to clouds, he would need to climb to an altitude of 9,000 ft mean sea level (msl), which was almost twice as high as originally requested. The request was most likely because, once airborne, the pilot could see the full extent of the building cloud formations to the north along his route, as well as the formations building just west of the departure airport.
As the flight proceeded, the air traffic controller began the first of what would become a series of warnings to the pilot about mountainous terrain. The pilot responded that he was aware of the terrain. He then began a series of six climbing 360° turns, rolling out on a west heading directly toward, and about 700 ft lower than, the mountain peak. The controller warned the pilot of the peak several times, and the pilot responded, sounding confused, stating that he was still climbing.
Now cruising at an altitude of about 11,000 ft msl, the airplane's climb capabilities had diminished. Furthermore, the pilot did not appear to be flying the airplane at a speed that would have resulted in optimal climb performance. The airplane continued heading west, now no longer climbing and most likely just above the cloud tops. With high and ominous-looking cloud formations now building to the left and right of the flight track, the pilot most likely opted to continue on his homeward westerly track, while attempting to climb over the terrain and clouds ahead.
The airplane then suddenly reversed course and rapidly descended. It then transitioned to a fast spiraling descent, and, when challenged by the controller as to whether he had the terrain in sight, the pilot exclaimed, "Negative! Negative!" The turn rate increased as the airplane descended to about 7,500 ft msl and then impacted mountainous terrain just below the cloud bases. Examination of the accident site indicated that the airplane struck the ground in a wings-level attitude at a high forward speed. Damage patterns indicated that the engine was producing power at impact.
It is likely that, unable to outclimb the terrain and the cloud tops, the airplane entered the clouds and thus instrument meteorological conditions during the final portion of the flight, and the pilot then experienced spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane, which resulted in the rapid descent. Additionally, prior to the descent into clouds, he was flying almost directly towards the sun, which could have been a further distraction and additional source of stress.
Many of the 71-year-old pilot's medical conditions, including hypertension, low testosterone, Barrett's esophagus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, deafness, chronic neck pain, vitamin D deficiency, and prediabetes, were unlikely to cause acute symptoms or be chronically impairing. Similarly, his blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication, testosterone, and prostate medication would not have impaired judgement, decision-making, or flight skills.
However, several medications that the pilot was using would have impairing effects. Hydrocodone, which was detected in the toxicology testing, is an impairing opiate pain medication and carries warnings regarding hazards while driving or operating machinery; however, with regular use, a chronic user may appear to function normally, so the pilot may not have been impaired by his use of opiods. Quetiapine, also detected during toxicology testing, is an antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar syndrome and carries warnings for an increased risk of seizures and somnolence. It can also impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills, and may have impaired the pilot's performance during the accident flight.
The pilot's medical records revealed that he had required years of ongoing psychotherapeutic support to manage the combined symptoms of PTSD and depression; at the time of the accident he had been experiencing an exacerbation of those symptoms for several months, and it did not appear that the symptoms had been completely resolved. Patients with PTSD experience marked cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses to stimuli. These symptoms are likely to occur in stressful situations and may have contributed to his confusion during the high workload period while attempting to ascend above mountain peaks. Further, depression is associated with cognitive degradation, particularly in executive functioning.
Therefore, under the stressful conditions of this flight, the combined effects of impairing medications, depression, and PTSD likely resulted in the pilot experiencing significant cognitive degradation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The non-instrument rated pilot's improper inflight decision-making to attempt to outclimb clouds along his planned route rather than reverse course, which resulted in his inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions, spatial disorientation, and a resultant loss of control. The pilot's preexisting medical conditions and his use of impairing medications contributed to his degraded performance.
On October 17, 2015, at 1552 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28R-180, N4972J, impacted mountainous terrain near Morongo Valley, California. The private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The cross-country personal flight departed Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), Palm Springs, California, at 1513, with a planned destination of Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, Santa Barbara, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure airport, and no flight plan had been filed.
Earlier on the day of the accident, the pilot and passenger flew the airplane from their home base of Santa Barbara to Palm Springs in order to visit a museum. According to friends, the original planned departure time for the flight to Palm Springs was 0900; however, due to weather conditions, they departed just before noon and arrived about 1330. Radar data revealed that the route of the outbound flight was via Santa Paula, Valencia, and Acton, then across the east-west mountain range of the Angeles National Forest, across the Los Angeles Basin, and through the Banning Pass to Palm Springs.
For the return trip, the pilot requested visual flight rules (VFR) flight following from the clearance delivery controller at Palm Springs and reported that his route of flight back to Santa Barbara would be along a northern route via Palmdale. He initially requested an altitude of 7,500 ft mean sea level (msl) and then immediately corrected himself, requesting 5,500 ft msl. The controller responded, telling the pilot to squawk VFR and to expect a northbound departure with an unrestricted climb.
Radar and audio data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) captured the entire flight sequence, beginning with the departure from runway 31R at PSP.
Following takeoff, the airplane began a climb to the north, and, about 6 minutes later, the pilot initiated radio contact with Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control, stating that he was 6 miles northeast of Palm Springs. He requested VFR flight following to Santa Barbara and, during the exchange, stated, "It looks like we might have to get up to 9,000 ft with the clouds." The air traffic controller responded, providing the pilot with a squawk code, altimeter setting, and instructions to maintain VFR at an altitude at the pilot's discretion. The pilot confirmed the instructions, and, a short time later, the controller responded that he had obtained radar contact with the airplane. The airplane continued to climb, and, about 4 minutes later, after it reached an altitude of about 5,200 ft msl, the controller communicated, "just to be clear you do have the terrain in sight to your left, right?" The pilot responded in the affirmative and added that he was going to perform a 360° turn to gain altitude. The controller responded, "Ok, just wanted to make sure we are on the same page." The controller then transmitted, "Are you guessing you are going to wind up north of Big Bear or do you think you're going to be able to get up through the Banning Pass, is that what your intents are?" The pilot responded, "I'm going to try to go through San Bernardino and out to the desert then out by General Fox." The airplane then began a left 270° turn, rolling out on a northeast heading by which time it had reached an altitude of 7,000 ft msl.
Over the next 14 minutes, the airplane conducted a series of 6 climbing 360° turns, eventually rolling out on a west heading, at an altitude of 10,800 ft msl. By that time, the airplane was about 14 miles east of, and heading directly toward, the 11,500 ft peak of San Gorgonio Mountain. The pilot reported that he was now travelling west, and the controller transmitted, "So you're going to go north side of the peak then, there, correct?" The pilot reported, "Um, say again," and the controller responded, "N72J are you going to go north side of the peak there or south side there?" The pilot responded, "Umm, I show that we're heading right to San Bernardino." The controller retorted, "Ok, I show an eleven seven peak between you and San Bernardino." The pilot responded, "Um, I'm at um, one zero thousand six hundred." The controller responded, "Roger," and, after a brief pause, the pilot continued, "and I'm still climbing."
The airplane maintained the west heading and continued to climb at ground speeds varying between 60 and 70 knots, reaching 11,100 ft msl about 3 minutes later. It then conducted another 360° left turn but had not gained significant altitude once it rolled out about 2 minutes later. The westbound track continued at similar speeds toward the peak for the next 4 minutes, as the airplane climbed 200 ft to 11,300 ft. The next radar target appeared 15 seconds later, indicating the airplane had rapidly reversed course and descended to 9,700 ft msl. The airplane then began a spiraling descent, and the controller transmitted, "Piper 72J you are descending once again in an area of higher terrain just west of you, I have a peak that I show to be at eleven thousand seven hundred feet, just west of your position...72J you cut me out, verify you still have the terrain in sight." The pilot then transmitted, "Negative! Negative!," and in the background the passenger could be heard expressing significant alarm. The controller continued issuing instructions, "N72J remain calm, if you are able proceed eastbound, remain VFR proceed eastbound, hold your altitude if you are able I see you are descending - repeat, eastbound, VFR, hold your altitude if you are able you are in an area of higher terrain." The pilot did not respond, and, over the next 45 seconds, the airplane continued to perform two more spiraling turns, with radiuses of about 1,200 and 700 ft, respectively, to the last recorded radar position, at an altitude of 7,500 ft.
Over the next few minutes, the controller tried reestablishing communication with the pilot but did not receive a response. A Riverside County Sheriff's Department helicopter was flying in the vicinity, so the controller provided the helicopter's crew with vectors to the airplane's last radar location and asked if they could establish radio communication. They attempted to do so, but no response was received. They reported that the search area was mountainous and obscured by clouds, and, after multiple approach attempts, they located burning wreckage along a ridge, about 100 ft below the base of the clouds. The following three figures show the airplane's radar track.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The 71-year-old pilot held a third-class medical certificate limited by a requirement that he must wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision. He was issued a private pilot certificate on September 9, 2014, at which time he reported a total flight experience of 85 hours of which 15 hours were as pilot in command. All the reported flight experience was in a Cessna 172. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating.
The pilot was the general manager for a repair station at Santa Barbara Airport. The airplane was maintained at the repair station, and the passenger worked at the repair station.
No personal flight records were recovered; however, the repair station's chief inspector stated that the pilot had flown regularly in the airplane, taking multiple trips to Oregon and the Mojave area during the period between receiving his private certificate and the accident. He stated that the reason for the flight was to drop off memorabilia at the flight museum in Palm Springs, and he was not aware of any pressing reason for the pilot and passenger to return promptly that night.
AIRPLANE INFORMATION
The single-engine, retractable-landing-gear airplane was manufactured in 1968 and powered by a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360-B1E engine. An annual inspection was performed on May 27, 2015. At that time, the airframe had accrued 3,704.90 total flight hours, and the engine had accrued 1,308.0 hours since overhaul.
An avionics upgrade was performed following the May 2015 annual inspection and was completed on August 17, 2015. The upgrade included the installation of a Garmin GTN 650 touchscreen GPS/Nav/Comm and a Garmin GDL 88 ADS-B transceiver. In combination, the pairing provided the pilot with terrain mapping, graphical NEXRAD radar, and weather data on the GTN 650 screen. The chief inspector stated that the pilot was still gaining familiarity with the system and was not fully proficient with its use and features.
The chief inspector also reported that the pilot kept an iPad tablet computer onboard for weather and navigation and that the airplane was equipped with a portable oxygen system. Due to fire damage, neither of these systems could be positively identified in the debris; therefore, their operational status could not be determined. Photographs posted by the passenger on a social media website after the flight to Palm Springs indicated that the pilot had mounted the iPad on the control yoke.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
The pilot did not call Lockheed Martin Flight Service for a telephone weather briefing either the day before or the day of the accident, and there was no record of him downloading an official weather briefing from any DUAT vendor.
Satellite Data
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite number 15 (GOES-15) imagery taken at 1545 and 1600 indicated an area of low- to mid-level clouds over the accident site, with cloud tops near 11,000 ft (figure 4). During that period, an area of clouds was observed developing near Big Bear, California, 12 miles northwest of the accident site, along with rapidly developing enhanced clouds (tops near 33,000 ft) between the accident site and Palm Springs. Multiple layers of clouds extended from west of Palm Springs through to the accident site and obscured Banning Pass to the south. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department helicopter crew reported cloud bases of about 1,500 ft above ground level (agl) in Banning Pass.
Base Reflectivity
An image from Edwards Air Force Base WSR-88D radar (NEXRAD) at 1552 revealed several developing echoes north and south of the accident location. Some very light intensity echoes were identified immediately west of the accident location, consistent with cloud buildups immediately ahead of the airplane's westbound track and over the higher terrain.
Upper Air Data
The NOAA Air Resource Laboratory North American Mesoscale numerical model over the accident site location depicted a conditional unstable atmosphere with an expected cloud base at 2,196 feet agl, cloud tops near 11,000 ft msl, and potential convective cloud tops near 40,000 ft. The freezing level was identified at 14,776 ft. The wind profile indicated southerly winds veering to the west with height; the average wind from 0 ft to 18,000 ft was from 250° at 9 knots. No significant turbulence or mountain wave activity was noted in the model sounding through 18,000 ft.
Area Forecast
An area forecast issued at 1245 and valid to 0100 the following morning indicated cloud tops in the Los Angeles Basin area varying between 3,000 and 4,000 ft, with an outlook for marginal VFR.
Surface Observations
The closest weather reporting facility to the accident location was at Big Bear City Airport, about 11 miles north-northwest of the accident site at an elevation of 6,752 ft. At 1535, an automated report indicated wind from 080° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, ceiling broken at 2,100 ft, broken at 2,600 ft, and overcast at 3,500 ft, temperature 13°C, dew point 9°C, altimeter 30.15 inches of mercury. At 1552, similar conditions existed with the addition of light rain.
At 1553, PSP reported wind from 140° at 4 knots, visibility unrestricted at 10 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 ft, temperature 32°C, dew point temperature 15°C, and altimeter 29.82 inches of mercury.
At 1447, San Bernardino International Airport, about 26 miles west of the accident site, at an elevation of 1,159 ft, reported wind from 240° at 10 knots, visibility 7 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 ft, temperature 29°C, dew point 14°C, altimeter 29.87 inches of mercury.
At 1556, Yucca Valley Airport, about 17 miles east of the accident site, reported wind from 110° at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, with scattered clouds at 8,000, 15,000, and 20,000 ft.
Astronomical Data
In Palm Springs at the time of the accident, the sun was 26° above the horizon at an azimuth of 236°. Sunset was at 1810, with the end of civil twilight at 1835.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The wreckage was located at an elevation of 7,222 ft msl on the eastern flank of the San Bernardino Mountain range, 24 miles north-northwest of PSP, 6 miles east of the San Gorgonio Mountain peak, and about 200 ft northeast of the last recorded radar target.
The airplane came to rest upright on a heading of 330° magnetic, on the 25° uphill slope of a boulder-strewn ridge (Photo 1). The entire cabin forward of the baggage door was consumed by fire. Both wings sustained crush damage through to their main spars, and the empennage had folded up over the tailcone. Fragments of the cabin structure and engine cowling had been propelled forward, creating a debris field about 60 ft long.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
FAA Medical Records
At the time of the pilot's most recent FAA medical examination, he was 70 inches tall, weighed 157 pounds, and reported hypertension treated with atenolol and amlodipine (prescription blood pressure medications often marketed with the names Tenormin and Norvasc, respectively). The physical examination was unremarkable.
Autopsy and Toxicology
An autopsy was performed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Coroner Division; the cause of death was reported as multiple blunt force injuries. Thermal damage limited the scope of the examination, with no significant natural disease identified from the available remains, and no tissues beyond lung and liver available for toxicology testing.
Toxicology testing performed by the Office of the Medical Examiner, County of San Diego, identified an opiate and confirmed the presence of quetiapine and its metabolites in liver tissue. Furthermore, testing performed by the FAA's Bioaeronautical Research Sciences Laboratory identified amlodipine, atenolol, losartan, atorvastatin, hydrocodone (0.116 ug/g) and its metabolites hydromorphone (0.045 ug/g) and dihydrocodeine as well as quetiapine (0.725 ug/g) in liver tissue. In addition, atenolol, hydrocodone (0.056 ug/g), and quetiapine were identified in lung tissue.
Losartan is a prescription blood pressure medication often marketed with the name Cozaar. Atorvastatin is used to treat high cholesterol and is commonly marketed with the name Lipitor. Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid identified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is most commonly sold in combination with acetaminophen, often with the names Vicodin and Lortab. It carries several warnings, including, "Hydrocodone, like all narcotics, may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery" and "Alcohol and other CNS (central nervous system) depressants may produce an additive CNS depression, when taken with this combination product, and should be avoided."
Quetiapine is an antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar syndrome. It carries several warnings including one for an increased risk of seizures and a specific warning about somnolence, which states, "quetiapine has the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills, patients should be cautioned about performing activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating a motor vehicle (including automobiles) or operating hazardous machinery until they are reasonably certain that quetiapine therapy does not affect them adversely. Somnolence may lead to falls."
Personal Medical Records
The pilot was receiving treatment from medical facilities of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). According to records obtained from the VA covering the period from 1999 to the date of the accident, the pilot had a history of chronic neck pain requiring the use of opioids, a vitamin D deficiency, hypertension, an abnormal stress thallium test suggesting coronary artery disease, deafness requiring hearing aids, prediabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Barrett's esophagus, and low testosterone.
His medications at the time of the accident included a hydrocodone/acetaminophen combination (7.5mg/325mg every 6 hours), losartan, atenolol, amlodipine, aspirin, atorvastatin, finasteride, gabapentin, and topical testosterone.
Gabapentin is a prescription medication initially developed as an antiseizure drug, which is also used to treat nerve pain. It is commonly marketed with the name Neurontin. Gabapentin carries a warning about increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions with its use and risk of somnolence and dizziness. As a result, it carries a recommendation that patients are to be notified that it "may cause dizziness, somnolence, and other symptoms and signs of CNS depression. Accordingly, they should be advised neither to drive a car nor to operate other complex machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on gabapentin to gauge whether or not it affects their mental and/or motor performance adversely." Gabapentin is excreted unchanged in urine and is not stored in organ tissues. As a result, its absence on the toxicology testing of liver and lung in this case does not indicate whether or not the pilot was using it.
Because of existing risk factors, the pilot underwent cardiac testing in 2001. The results revealed abnormal exercise and thallium stress test results, indicating likely early single vessel coronary artery disease. As the pilot was asymptomatic at the time, the decision was to improve the control of his blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Follow-up stress testing was unchanged, and, as the pilot remained asymptomatic, no further intervention was performed.
The pilot periodically reported neck pain, which was first treated with opioids in 2007. It recurred in 2010, and, following a telephone consultation with the physician, he was prescribed hydrocodone/acetaminophen 5/325mg, one tablet 4 times a day as needed. He continued on this regimen until the dose was increased to the 7.5/325mg tablets in July 2012.
In November 2014, the pilot's prescription for hydrocodone for chronic pain was changed because the Drug Enforcement Administration changed it from a Schedule III to a Schedule II controlled substance, indicating an increased risk for abuse. Over the next few months, he tried using codeine and tramadol instead but was unable to get sufficient pain relief. He returned to hydrocodone/acetaminophen 7.5/325 mg four times a day on February 19, 2015, and maintained that dosing regimen until the accident. Records indicated he routinely refilled the prescription monthly. In a visit with his primary care physician dated August 25, 2015, the physician noted the pilot had a normal neurologic exam including motor and nerve function as well as normal gait and that his mood was stable and calm. The physician documented his impression that the pilot's judgment and insight were intact.
According to the pilot's psychology and psychiatry report, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, for which he was treated with quetiapine and psychotherapy from 2003 forward. He attended regular psychotherapy sessions, and, several months before the accident, he had been feeling "pretty bad" and requested biweekly rather than monthly therapy sessions to obtain additional support for the stressors in his life. During a session on September 14, 2015, the therapist noted the pilot reported he was "doing OK" but seemed edgy. On September 22, 2015, about 3 weeks before the accident, the pilot met with his therapist. The records documented that, at that time, he was doing "pretty good." Although the plan was to return to monthly sessions beginning in October, the therapist noted that he "seemed to be isolating" himself and documented her intent to review the issue with him at the next visit.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
Engine and Airframe Examinations
The airframe sustained extensive thermal damage that consumed the entire cabin through to the tail cone. Remnants of all the airplane's primary structures were accounted for at the accident site.
The firewall was crushed and detached from the airframe, and the steel remnants of the seat frames, flight control columns, cables, and bellcranks exhibited fragmentation and bending damage with fire consuming all their ancillary components. The landing gear was in the retracted position, and the rudder and stabilator control cables were continuous from the control surfaces through to the cabin controls. The aileron control cables were continuous from the wing-mounted bellcranks through to the chain fittings at the control column. Both wing bellcranks were still connected via the aileron balance cable.
The engine remained partially attached to its mount, which had detached from the firewall. The engine was thermally discolored and covered in soot, and the forward crankcase and forward fins of the No. 1 cylinder were crushed and cracked. The accessory case was consumed by fire along with both magnetos, the vacuum pump, the oil sump, and the induction tubes. The drive train area was exposed, with only the crankshaft and camshaft drive gears remaining.
The top spark plugs were removed and examined. The spark plugs were of the massive electrode type, and the plugs from cylinder Nos. 1, 2 and 4 were dark in color with the plug from cylinder No. 3 exhibiting a lighter grey coloration. The varying coloration of the No. 3 plug was attributed to its being exposed to the thermal effects of the post impact ground fire. According to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug AV-27 Chart, the electrodes exhibited minimal wear signatures.
The cylinder combustion chambers were examined using a borescope. The combustion chambers appeared mechanically undamaged, and there was no evidence of foreign object ingestion or detonation. The valves were intact and undamaged, and there was no evidence of valve to piston face contact.
Holes were drilled in the upper crankcase to facilitate examination of the camshaft lobes using a lighted borescope. All lobes appeared undamaged. The crankshaft and attached connecting rods remained undamaged and free of heat distress.
The propeller hub had separated from the crankshaft. The separation features on the crankshaft were conical in appearance with a 45° shear lip around the entire radius of the break. Both propeller blades had separated about 10 inches from their tips. Both inboard blade sections exhibited similar chordwise scratches, tip twist, and leading edge nicks.
Performance
The airplane manufacturer's operating handbook defined a best rate of climb speed at maximum gross weight of 100 mph and a best angle of climb speed of 90 mph. The handbook stated that at lower gross weights, "speeds are reduced somewhat."
For enroute climb, the handbook recommended a speed of 110 mph to produce a better forward speed and increase the visibility over the nose. According to the rate of climb versus density altitude chart, at maximum gross weight with landing gear and flaps retracted, the rate of climb at a density altitude of 13,000 ft would have been about 200 ft per minute. The airplane's service ceiling was 15,000 ft.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Regarding supplemental oxygen requirements, 14 CFR 91.211 states:
"No person may operate a civil aircraft of U.S. registry -
(1) At cabin pressure altitudes above 12,500 feet (MSL) up to and including 14,000 feet (MSL) unless the required minimum flight crew is provided with and uses supplemental oxygen for that part of the flight at those altitudes that is of more than 30 minutes duration;
(2) At cabin pressure altitudes above 14,000 feet (MSL) unless the required minimum flight crew is provided with and uses supplemental oxygen during the entire flight time at those altitudes; and
(3) At cabin pressure altitudes above 15,000 feet (MSL) unless each occupant of the aircraft is provided with supplemental oxygen."
The flight from Santa Barbara to Palm Springs lasted about 1 hour 40 minutes and was flown primarily at an average altitude of about 7,500 ft, except for a 20-minute period in the middle of the flight when the altitude was between 10,000 and 11,700 ft.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 17, 2015 in Morongo Valley, CA
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28R-180, registration: N4972J
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On October 17, 2015, at 1552 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28R-180, N4972J, impacted mountainous terrain near Morongo Valley, California. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The cross-country flight departed Palm Springs International Airport, Palm Springs, California, at 1513, with a planned destination of Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, Santa Barbara, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure location, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot and passenger departed in the accident airplane on the outbound leg from Santa Barbara to Palm Springs earlier that morning. According to friends, the original departure time for that flight was due to be 0900; however, due to weather conditions they departed just before noon, landing about 1330. Preliminary radar data revealed that for the outbound flight they travelled via Santa Paula, Valencia, and Acton, where they then traversed the Angeles National Forest, crossed the Los Angeles Basin, and flew through the Banning Pass to Palm Springs.
They visited a museum while in Palm Springs, and then departed for the return to Santa Barbara. Radar and audio data provided by the FAA captured the entire flight sequence, beginning with the departure from runway 31R. Following takeoff the airplane began a climb to the north, and about 6 minutes later, the pilot initiated radio contact with Southern California TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control), stating that he was 6 miles to the northeast of Palm Springs. He requested visual flight rules (VFR) flight following to Santa Barbara, and during the exchange stated, "It looks like we might have to get up to 9,000 feet with the clouds." The air traffic controller responded, providing the pilot with a squawk code, altimeter setting, and instructions that he maintain VFR conditions at an altitude at the pilot's discretion. The pilot confirmed, and a short time later the controller responded that he had made radar contact. The airplane continued to climb, and about 4 minutes later, having reached an altitude of about 5,200 ft mean sea level (msl), the controller communicated, "just to be clear you do have the terrain insight to your left, right?" The pilot responded in the affirmative, further stating that he was going to perform a 360-degree to turn to gain altitude. The controller responded, "Ok, just wanted to make sure we are on the same page." The controller then transmitted, "Are you guessing you are going to wind up north of Big Bear or do you think you're going to be able to get up through the Banning Pass, is that what your intents are?" The pilot responded, "I'm going to try to go through San Bernardino and out to the desert then out by General Fox." The airplane then began a left 270-degree turn, rolling out on a northeast heading by which time it had reached an altitude of 7,000 ft.
For the next 14 minutes, the airplane began a series of six climbing 360-degree turns, eventually rolling out on a west heading, at an altitude of 10,800 ft. By that time the airplane was about 12 miles east of, and heading directly towards, the 11,500 ft peak of San Gorgonio Mountain. The airplane initiated another 360-degree turn, this time gaining 100 ft, when the pilot reported that he was now travelling west. The controller transmitted, "So you're going to go north side of the peak then, there, correct?" The pilot reported, "Um, say again" and the controller responded, "N72J are you going to go north side of the peak there or south side there?" The pilot responded, "Umm, I show that we're heading right to San Bernardino." And the controller retorted, "Ok, I show an eleven seven peak between you and San Bernardino." The pilot responded, "Um, I'm at um, ten thousand six hundred." The controller responded "Roger," and after a brief pause the pilot continued, "and I'm still climbing."
The airplane maintained a west heading for another 7 minutes, and then began to descend. The controller transmitted, "Piper 72J you are descending once again in an area of higher terrain just west of you, I have a peak that I show to be at eleven thousand seven hundred feet, just west of your position...72J you cut me out, verify you still have the terrain in sight." The pilot then transmitted, "Negative! Negative!" The controller continued issuing instructions, "N72J remain calm, if you are able proceed eastbound, remain VFR proceed eastbound, hold your altitude if you are able I see you are descending - repeat, eastbound, VFR, hold your altitude if you are able you are in an area of higher terrain." The pilot did not respond and over the next 45 seconds the airplane continued to descend to the last recorded position at an altitude of 7,775 ft.
The wreckage was located at an elevation of 7,222 ft, on the eastern flank of the San Bernardino Mountain range, about 200 ft northeast of the last recorded radar target. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 330 degrees magnetic, on the 25-degree uphill slope of a boulder-strewn ridge. The entire cabin forward of the baggage door was consumed by fire. Both wings sustained crush damage through to their main spars, and the empennage had folded up over the tailcone. Fragments of the cabin structure and engine cowling had been propelled forward, creating a debris field about 60 ft long.
The two had flown in Trimble’s Piper PA-28R-180 plane to Palm Springs that day so that Trimble could donate a POI/MIA that belonged to U.S. Army Specialist 4 David Lee Scott, with whom he had served in the Vietnam War, according to The Desert Sun and a prepared statement from Accurate Aviation. Trimble wore the bracelet for many years after Scott was declared Missing In Action after an attack on Vietnam’s North Central Coast. On Saturday, Trimble had donated the keepsake to the Palm Springs Air Museum’s POI/MIA bracelet project, as stated in The Desert Sun.
Remembered as “an avid pilot and aircraft lover,” Trimble also served as a faculty member at SBCC’s Department of Alcohol and Drug Counseling, where he worked with community members in recovery. At the time of his death, Trimble had also served his community for 14 years as Executive Director of Thresholds to Recovery and for 10 years as supervisor of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Treatment Program.
Day, remembered by coworkers, friends, and family “for her love of life and sense of humor,” enjoyed attending football games and rock n’ roll concerts. Although she had recently moved to California, she had already had a meaningful impact on her community, her company said of her in a prepared statement. Day was recently engaged to Tom McGregor, President of Accurate Aviation.
A prepared statement from Accurate Aviation attributed the plane crash to suspected poor weather conditions that day. Because of the area’s harsh terrain, investigators were unable to reach the crash site until Sunday.
“The loss of these two remarkable individuals continues to be a shock to family and friends. To Bob and Terri: ‘Blue skies and tailwinds.’ The Accurate Aviation family will miss you both dearly,” the company said.
Memorial details for Bob Trimble and Terri Day are soon to be released.
Terri Day died in a Piper PA-28R-180 Arrow crash after flying to Palm Springs from Santa Barbara to deliver a military bracelet to the local air museum for display.
Bob Trimble
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - New details emerged Tuesday about two people killed in a weekend plane crash near Morongo Valley.
Bob Trimble, and his passenger, Terri Day, had flown from Santa Barbara to the Palm Springs International Airport hours before their small plane crashed.
The crash happened just 23 miles northwest of Palm Springs Saturday near the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.
The pilot, Bob Trimble, and his passenger, Terri Day, had flown from Santa Barbara to the Palm Springs International Airport hours earlier.
Trimble was the general manager for Accurate Aviation" in Santa Barbara.
Day was the company owner's fiance.
They came to donate a POW/MIA bracelet to the Palm Springs Air Museum.
The bracelet belonged to a fellow soldier, Trimble once served with in Vietnam.
Trimble wore the bracelet for years in memory of U.S. Army Specialist IV, David Lee Scott.
An air museum volunteer, Dave Thompson, now wears the bracelet, which will be included in a future exhibit.
He said Trimble contacted him about six months ago.
Thompson said Trible told him, "he had the bracelet and this is the bracelet of his best friend they served in Vietnam."
Thompson added, "His friend didn't come home so he had been wearing the bracelet for years and years and years and he heard about our program and he wanted to present it to us."
The air museum is collecting bracelets honoring POW's and MIA's for a planned memorial.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating Saturday's small plane crash.
- Source: http://www.kesq.com
Bob Trimble
Two Santa Barbara-area residents are believed to have been killed over the weekend in a plane crash near Palm Springs.
A Piper PA-28R-180 Arrow went down at about 3:50 p.m. Saturday in Morongo Canyon, some 23 miles northwest of Palm Springs, according to Ian Gregor, public affairs manager for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The aircraft was headed to Santa Barbara at the time it crashed, Gregor said.
The names of those on board were not released, but the Facebook page for Bob Trimble, general manager of Accurate Aviation in Santa Barbara, references the crash, and includes numerous condolences for his passing.
Friends were also mourning Terri Day, the second person believed to be on board, who also apparently worked at Accurate Aviation.
Trimble also worked as a counselor for the Santa Barbara City College Department of Alcohol and Drug Counseling.
Terry Williams, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board, said an investigator arrived on scene Sunday, and had made a preliminary examination of the aircraft wreckage and the crash site.
Investigators also will look into the pilot's records, training and license, as well as the maintenance records for the aircraft, Williams said.
- Source: https://www.noozhawk.com
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The aviation community on the central coast is mourning two people killed in a plane crash over the weekend.
Friends of Bob Trimble and Terri Day said they were killed in a small plane crash on Saturday afternoon.
It happened about 20 miles from Palm Springs in the San Bernardino mountains northwest of Morongo Canyon.
Photos posted on Facebook show Trimble flying.
Trimble and Day both worked at Accurate Aviation in Santa Barbara.
A Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation board members said board member said Trimble was a Army Veterans who was awarded the Silver Star for heroism, five Bronze Stars for valor in combat and two Purple Hearts during the Vietnam War. His name is on a shadow box next to his father's, Robert J. Trimble Jr., on the wall of the Santa Barbara Veteran Building.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
- Source: http://www.keyt.com
UPDATE (5:36 p.m.): Two confirmed deceased, plane is still reported to be smouldering.
Per scanner traffic, the ground in the area is wet from recent rainfall.
Recovery is planned for Sunday, October 18th due to inclement weather.
JOSHUA TREE: – Per scanner reports, dispatch received a report of a plane down at approximately 4:30 P.M., on Saturday, October 17, 2015.
According to those that hovered over the wreckage, there does not appear to be any survivors at this time.
Crews landed and are currently assessing the situation at the crash site.
The plane is registered as a Piper PA-28R-180 Arrow plane out of Santa Barbara, California.
There is no information as to what may have caused the crash at this time and no details about who was on board the plane.
- Source: http://www.vvng.com
The plane was discovered Saturday in the area of 134 Fork Springs, sheriff’s officials said. Two people who were in the plane have been pronounced dead.
It’s unclear if any others were in the plane when it crashed.
The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified, and the identities of the individuals killed in the crash are being withheld until officials can notify their next of kin.
Sheriff’s officials had no other information to provide at the time of this report.
- Source: http://www.sbsun.com
A plane crash killed two people northwest of the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve on Saturday, October 17th, a sheriff's official said.
The crash was reported near Fork Springs, said Jodi Miller, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. What time the plane crashed occurred or the exact location were unavailable, she said.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the accident but had few details confirmed Saturday night, spokesman Terry Williams said.
Officials were unable to confirm the victims' names, time of the crash and the exact location Saturday night.
- Source: http://www.pe.com
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N4972J/history/20151017/2222Z/KPSP/L%2034.11583%20-116.70833/tracklog
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