Accident Overview
On May 8, 2016, at approximately 1640 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28, registration N5046W, struck a building roof during a forced landing in Pomona, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, who was the registered owner and sole occupant, suffered serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 16-nautical-mile local flight, operated under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan.
The flight departed Fullerton Municipal Airport (FUL) at about 1630, destined for Brackett Field (POC) in La Verne, California. According to the pilot, during the descent to about 2,000 ft mean sea level, the engine rpm decreased to between 500 and 600 rpm. The pilot radioed a MAYDAY, switched fuel tanks, and aimed for the only available landing area—a building rooftop. The airplane came to rest nose down on the roof, with the roof collapsed around the engine cowling to the top of the propeller spinner. The left main landing gear collapsed aft, and both the left and nose wheels separated.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The 61-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He reported 900 total flight hours, with 300 hours in the same make and model. In the preceding 90 days, he had flown 5 hours, and 2 hours in the last 30 days. His most recent flight review was on February 27, 2016, and he held a third-class medical certificate issued December 4, 2015, with a requirement to wear corrective lenses.
The accident airplane was a Piper PA-28, serial number 28-48, a single-engine, low-wing airplane with fixed tricycle landing gear. Airframe logbook entries showed that the last two annual inspections (October 4, 2014, and November 1, 2015) had identified discrepancies, and the airplane was not signed off as airworthy. Discrepancies included a missing engine data plate, a needed right side exhaust shroud for carburetor heat, and a left wing fuel sump drain weeping.
Fuel and Engine Examination
During the post-accident examination, investigators drained approximately 7.5 gallons of light blue fluid (consistent with aviation gasoline) from the left wing tank fuel drain and about 1 quart from the right wing tank. A few ounces of amber fluid were drained from the carburetor. The fuel selector was observed positioned to the right fuel tank. The gascolator was displaced but its screen was clean.
Detailed examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The propeller remained attached; one blade was bent aft, while the other showed no bending, and neither blade had leading edge gouging or S-bending.
Weather Conditions
Weather reported at Brackett Field at 1547 included wind from 260° at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 3,100 ft above ground level, temperature 17°C, dew point 10°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury. According to the carburetor icing probability chart, conditions were conducive to moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power.