Piper PA-32RT-300 N2221G

Summary

On 7 March 1993 at about 23:02 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N2221G, operated by California Wings, was involved in an accident near Big Bear City, California, United States. 6 people were on board and 2 died, 4 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 March 1993 at 23:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Bear City, California, United States

Nearest airport

Big Bear City (L35)

Coordinates

34.2598, -116.8401

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300

Registration

N2221G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

California Wings

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → San Diego

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93FA141

2 people died.

A PARTIAL LOSS OF TAKEOFF POWER DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION WHICH FAILED TO DETECT MAGNETO AND SPARK PLUG DEFICIENCIES. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO GET AIRBORNE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF PILOTING EXPERIENCE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS HEARD TO REDUCE POWER AT MID-FIELD, THEN FULL POWER WAS APPLIED. IT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 6 FT, SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RWY, CLIMBED AGAIN TO 6 FT, SETTLED AGAIN, THEN CONTINUED ITS TAKEOFF ROLL USING MOST OF THE 5,850-FT RWY UNTIL REACHING THE ARPT PERIMETER FENCE. IT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 20 FT AGL, THEN SETTLED INTO A HOUSE. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 7,800 FT. ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE MAGNETO-TO-ENGINE TIMING WAS OFF, THE MAGNETO INTERNAL TIMING WAS OFF ON BOTH SETS OF POINTS, AND BOTH POINT GAPS WERE OFF. IN ADDITION, 5 OF THE 12 SPARK PLUGS WERE FOUND TO HAVE WORN ELECTRODES. ONE SPARK PLUG WAS NOT APPROVED FOR THE ENGINE. A 100-HR INSPECTION HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON 2/2/93, ABOUT 17 FLIGHT-HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.