Piper PA-28R-200 N41544

Summary

On 17 September 1995 at about 18:50 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N41544 was involved in an accident near Parker Dam, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 1995 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Parker Dam, California, United States

Nearest airport

Havasu Palms Airstrip

Coordinates

34.2808, -114.1801

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N41544

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA337

2 people were seriously injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he had no recall of the accident sequence. Ground witnesses saw and heard the aircraft make an approach to the runway from the river towards the south. The weather was described by one witness as clear with light winds of 2 knots from the west. Another witness stated that the winds were 25 knots from the east. The aircraft was observed to approach with the landing gear down, then the engine revved up and the pilot pulled up and turned left. One witness said the aircraft stalled, then descended to ground impact across the ravine. A pilot-rated witness said the engine sounded normal throughout the sequence. The dirt airstrip is on the west bank of the Colorado river and sits atop a small plateau bordered by ravines on the east, west, and north sides. The south end of the runway has rapidly rising terrain within 1/2 mile. The aircraft was found about 1,200 feet down the runway and 150 yards to the east of the runway center line and across a ravine. The aircraft impacted against the trunk of a 25-foot-tall tree on the opposite upslope side of the ravine. No discrepancies were noted during the engine and airframe examination and disassembly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.