Plane Crash Reports 2003

2003 Plane Crash Report Result

Title: PIPER PA-32R-301T, N481CA, DECLARED AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE EMERGENCY,

Report Date: 10/15

Plane Crash Problem: On October 1, 2003, about 1541 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N481CA, declared an in-flight fire emergency, and crashed shortly thereafter in an unincorporated area of Corona, California. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed in the post-impact fire. The cross-country flight departed the Corona Municipal Airport (AJO) about 1530, en route to Oakland, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 56.46 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 34.41 minutes west longitude. Radio communications between the pilot and a Southern California Terminal Radar Control (SoCal TRACON) controller indicated that the pilot received his IFR release from AJO at 1536. The airplane was airborne at 1537. At 1538, the pilot contacted SoCal TRACON climbing through 1,300 feet. At 1540:32, the pilot declared an emergency saying he "thought" he had a fire. The airplane crashed at 1541. According to an airborne witness, who was practicing ILS approaches into the Chino Airport (CNO), Chino, California, the pilot declared an emergency. The witness stated that he was conducting the missed approach for runway 26R, which required a turn to the southeast and a climb to 3,000 feet. He heard someone contact SoCal TRACON and state that they had a fire. The airborne witness looked around for the aircraft and saw it off to his left side, and estimated its altitude was 3,000 feet. He saw the airplane flying level and trailing black smoke. The witness heard the accident pilot say that he had to get out of there, and then saw the airplane turn to the left. The witness watched the airplane make one spiraling turn and then impact the ground. He then saw a fireball. The witness orbited the area until a police helicopter arrived on scene. The witness could not pinpoint the area of concentration of the smoke, just that it was black and trailing the airplane. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the airplane in a nose down attitude with smoke and/or flames coming from the airplane. Investigators from the Safety Board, Textron Lycoming, and New Piper Aircraft (party representatives to the accident) examined the wreckage at the accident scene. The airplane came to rest in an open field. The accident site was located about 4 miles southwest of AJO on a magnetic bearing of 192 degrees in flat terrain, which was surrounded by bamboo and small trees. All of the airplane's major components were at the accident site. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was the crater where the engine came to rest. The engine was at an 85-degree nose down angle. The airplane had been consumed by fire. The fuselage was in line with the debris path, and located just forward of the engine. The wing spars with partial wing skin were parallel to the fuselage. The tail section was lying over the right side of the fuselage. Investigators found a portion of wing skin about 150 feet west of the main wreckage with no fire damage present. The top cowling was about 100 feet from the main wreckage with soot present on the outside; however, there was no soot on the inside. A burned aft cargo door (the small one) was about 95 feet from the main wreckage. Airframe and engine inspections were conducted at Eastman Aircraft at AJO and the investigation is on-going.

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