Piper PA-28R-201T N47628

Summary

On 2 May 1994 at about 04:19 local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T registered N47628, operated by Paul A. Gordon, was involved in an accident near La Verne, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 May 1994 at 04:19

Classification

Accident

Location

La Verne, California, United States

Coordinates

34.1504, -117.7604

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-201T

Registration

N47628

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Paul A. Gordon

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Claremont → Pacoima

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX94FA212

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A FLIGHT ROUTE AND EN ROUTE DESCENT ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT ASKED THE FSS FOR ONLY THE CURRENT AND FORECAST DESTINATION WEATHER. A NOTAM REGARDING THE CLOSURE OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE PILOT. EN ROUTE THE PILOT CONTACTED ATC FOR VFR ADVISORIES THROUGH THE ARSA TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE WAS THEN ADVISED IT WAS CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE PILOT REPORTED HE WOULD RETURN TO CLAREMONT. RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE REVERSED COURSE, BEGAN A CLIMB FROM 6,500 TO 7,000 FT, THEN BEGAN A DESCENT WHICH CONTINUED TO IMPACT IN THE FOOTHILLS IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES BASIN. THE LAST RECORDED MODE C ALTITUDE WAS 3,400 FT. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS AT 2,600 FT. TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED THERAPEUTIC LEVELS OF PSEUDOEPHEDRINE (0.64 MG/L BLOOD, 0.15 MG/L LIVER), PROMETHAZINE (3.4 MG/KG LIVER), AND BROMPHENIRAMINE (3.0 MG/KG LIVER). PROMETHAZINE IS PROHIBITED FOR USE BY PILOTS WHILE FLYING. THE PILOT HAD A COLD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.