Piper PA-28 crash Big Bear, CA

Peter Ha

Peter Ha

Pre-takeoff checklist
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https://ktla.com/news/local-news/single-engine-plane-with-2-passengers-onboard-crashes-in-big-bear/

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Two people were seriously injured Tuesday when a plane they were on crashed in Big Bear and caught fire, officials said.
The single-engine Piper PA-28 crashed around 1:25 p.m., when the pilot was attempting to land at Big Bear City Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The two passengers were pulled out of the plane by bystanders and were airlifted to trauma centers, the Associated Press reported.
The plane caught fire after crashing, the FAA said.
The FAA and and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the matter.
Crews were working to fix power lines in the immediate area, which appeared to be down.
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METARs around the time of the crash:

KL35 222055Z AUTO 25010G17KT 10SM SCT100 OVC120 23/00 A3027 RMK AO2
KL35 222035Z AUTO 24007G16KT 10SM BKN100 BKN110 22/00 A3027 RMK AO2
KL35 222015Z AUTO 26006KT 10SM SCT100 SCT120 25/00 A3026 RMK AO2
KL35 221955Z AUTO 20007G15KT 10SM CLR 25/00 A3026 RMK AO2
 
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News says Meadow Lane.. that's basically on short final. Sucks. Glad they survived. Not very gust.. but 7 to 16 is enough to potentially upset things if you're already hanging on the edge on a high DA day. Sucks.
 
A density altitude calculator gives nearly 8800 feet. I don't know what flavor of PA28 it was.
 
I landed there yesterday in gusty winds and needed a serious power correction to arrest some sink at about 100 feet, 1969 PA-30. Hate when it’s windy, and it’s always windy but as long as it’s right down the runway it’s not too bad. As a frequent user there (house and hangar) I hate to see this.

They were conscious after the crash (based on reports) so hopefully their injuries are survivable.
 
Big Bear is one of those airports that you think about the DA, but don't think nearly as much about the windshear. The challenges in operating there often have as much, or more, to do with shear than they do altitude.

Anyone know the reg?
 
Even weirder when you look at where they crashed which is about abeam the touchdown zone marker for 26, just north of the runway.

Sounds like loss of control on landing and veer to north. Maybe they tried to go around but time will tell.
 
This issue of rapidly changing wind during transition to ground effect is a big deal. As a newish pilot I see it a lot, and wish there was more training on it.

Wondering if they were shooting for the numbers or the thousands foot markers, and what decisions were driven by high DA that might have pushed them to take other risks?
 
I had a flight with an instructor today in a PA28-236, and the two landings at San Carlos were really sporty, with updrafts and downdrafts. These are the two observations bracketing my landings. (The crosswind was about 90 degrees.)

KSQL 242247Z 23015G20KT 10SM FEW010 20/12 A3002
KSQL 242047Z 25014G18KT 10SM FEW010 22/12 A3002
 
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