2 fatal · PIPER PA-46-350P · 1990-02-06 · BAKERSFIELD, CA, USA
Event
NTSB number
LAX90FA084
Event ID
20001212X22579
Type
Accident
Date
1990-02-06
Location
BAKERSFIELD, CA, USA
Coordinates
35.540706, -118.909057
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
2
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
2
Aircraft
Make
PIPER
Model
PA-46-350P
Registration
N8888M
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
Unk
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACTIVATE THE PITOT HEAT BEFORE FLYING AT AND ABOVE THE FREEZING LEVEL IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), FOLLOWED BY HIS IMPROPER RESPONSE TO ERRONEOUS AIRSPEED INDICATIONS THAT RESULTED FROM BLOCKAGE OF THE PITOT TUBE BY ATMOSPHERIC ICING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT.