Piper PA-28-161 N8321K

Summary

On 21 February 1988 at about 01:52 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N8321K, operated by Barnes Aviation, was involved in an accident near Rosamond, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 February 1988 at 01:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Rosamond, California, United States

Coordinates

34.8693, -118.3394

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N8321K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Barnes Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX88FA113

2 people died.

DECISION OF THE PILOT TO ATTEMPT MULTIPLE LOW LEVEL PASSES OVER A RESIDENCE IN AN AREA OF RISING TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND AMPHETAMINE FOUND IN BOTH THE PILOT'S BLOOD AND URINE SPECIMENS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL LIGHTING CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT RENTED THE ACFT WITH THE STATED INTENTION OF TAKING SUNSET PHOTOS; HOWEVER, NO CAMERA WAS FND IN THE ACFT AFTER IT HAD CRASHED. WITNESSES AT A RESIDENCE NEAR THE CRASH SITE SAW THE ACFT MAKE 2 PASSES OVER THEIR POSITION. THEY RPRTD THAT THE PASSES WERE SO LOW THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACFT HITTING THE HOUSE. AS THE ACFT WAS HEADING TOWARD THE HOUSE ON THE 3RD PASS, IT COLLIDED WITH THE CREST OF A HILL. THE ACDNT OCCURRED ABOUT 12 MIN AFTER SUNSET. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED METHAMPHETAMINE & AMPHETAMINE AT RESPECTIVE LEVELS OF 0.888 MG/L & 0.072 MG/L. A CHECK OF HIS URINE SHOWED A THC (MARIJUANA METABOLITE) LEVEL OF 269 NG/DL. HIS URINE ALSO TESTED POSITIVE FOR METHAMPHETAMINE, AMPHETAMINE,ACETAMINOPHEN & NICOTINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.