Saturday, October 13, 2018

Piper PA-28-161, owned and operated by National Air College International Inc, N2171D: Accident occurred June 10, 2017 in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County, California


The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Van Nuys, California

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


http://registry.faa.gov/N2171D



Location: Carpinteria, CA
Accident Number: WPR17LA124
Date & Time: 06/10/2017, 1430 PDT
Registration: N2171D
Aircraft: PIPER PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: VFR encounter with IMC
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On June 10, 2017, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28-161 airplane, N2171D, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions about 4 nautical miles (nm) northeast of Carpinteria, California. The non-instrument rated private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by National Air College International Inc., San Diego, California. The personal cross-country flight was being operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot departed Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MFY), San Diego, California, about 1100, and was destined for Santa Ynez Airport (IZA), Santa Ynez, California.

In a report submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that the coastline was covered in overcast clouds, and over Santa Barbara (SBA), California, about 19 nm west-northwest of the accident site, the clouds were at 2,200 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot stated that due to the clouds, he began to descend to get the ground in sight, but at 2,100 ft agl he was still in a thick cloud and could not see outside. The pilot reported that after he failed to make a decision to climb or contact air traffic control for assistance, he crashed into a mountain ridge. The airplane came to rest upright on a westerly heading with its left wing bent back at mid-span.

The pilot was able to contact emergency responders by cell phone. Search and rescue personnel located the downed airplane and rescued the pilot by helicopter about 1700. A strong presence of fuel was detected at the accident site. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine prior to or during the flight that would have precluded normal operations.

The weather reporting facility at SBA, located about 19 nm west of the accident site, revealed a ceiling of 2,800 ft agl about 35 minutes prior to the accident, and a ceiling of 2,600 ft agl about 20 minutes following the accident. Winds were reported out of the south and southwest from 6 to 7 knots.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 31, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/11/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/22/2017
Flight Time: 280 hours (Total, all aircraft), 50 hours (Total, this make and model), 190 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 102 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 102 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N2171D
Model/Series: PA28 161
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28-7916146
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/06/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2440 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:35 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 15034 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91A installed, activated, aided in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-320-D3G
Registered Owner: National Air College International Inc
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SBA, 13 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1400 PDT
Direction from Accident Site: 270°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Thin Overcast / 2100 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 2200 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 170°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.85 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C / 13°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Moderate - Low Drifting - Fog; No Precipitation
Departure Point: San Diego, CA (MYF)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Santa Ynez, CA (IZA)
Type of Clearance: VFR Flight Following
Departure Time: 1100 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class E 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude:  34.447222, -119.449167




NTSB Identification: WPR17LA124 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, June 10, 2017 in Carpinteria, CA
Aircraft: PIPER PA28, registration: N2171D
Injuries: 1 Serious.

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 may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On June 10, 2017, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28, N2171D, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain while maneuvering about 4 nautical miles (nm) northeast of Carpinteria, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by National Air College International Inc., San Diego, California. The personal cross-country flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot departed Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MFY), San Diego, California, about 1100, with the destination reported as the Santa Ynez Airport (IZA), Santa Ynez, California.

In a report submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that the coastline was covered in overcast clouds, and over Santa Barbara (SBA), about 19 nm west-northwest of the accident site, the clouds were at 2,200 ft above ground level (agl). The pilot stated that due to the clouds, he began to descend to get the ground in sight, but at 2,100 ft agl he was still in a thick cloud and could not see outside. The pilot concluded by saying that after he failed to make a decision to climb or contact air traffic control for assistance, he crashed into a mountain ridge. The airplane came to rest upright on a westerly heading with its left wing bent back at mid-span.

The pilot was able to contact emergency responders by cell phone. Search and rescue personnel located the downed airplane and rescued the pilot by helicopter about 1700. A strong presence of fuel was detected at the accident site. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have precluded normal operations.

The weather reporting facility at SBA revealed a ceiling of 2,800 ft agl about 35 minutes prior to the accident, and a ceiling of 2,700 feet agl about 20 minutes following the accident. Winds were reported out of the south and southwest at about 7 knots.

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