N4149J

On May 8, 1993, about 1230 hours, Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4149J, crashed during landing on runway 33 at Reedley Municipal Airport, Reedley, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) local area solo instructional flight. The airplane, operated by Philip Evans, dba Kings Canyon Aviation, Reedley, California, sustained substantial damage. The noncertificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Reedley Municipal Airport at about 1200 hours.

An Operations Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration, Fresno Flight Standards District Office, reported that the pilot touched down on runway 33 with an excessive crab angle. The pilot suddenly applied full throttle in an attempted go-around. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck the airport's tetrahedron. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, wings, and fuselage.

The pilot was issued a student pilot/third class medical certificate on September 29, 1992. The pilot received a solo endorsement on October 20, 1992. The medical certificate contains the limitation that the pilot must wear correcting lenses for distant vision and possess glasses for near vision while exercising the privileges of his airman certificate. According to the pilot/operator report submitted by the pilot, his total aeronautical experience consists of about 44.4 hours, of which 25.7 were accrued in the accident airplane make and model. In the preceding 90 and 30 days prior to the accident, the report lists a total of 14.2 and 8.2 hours, respectively flown.

The closest official weather observation station is Fresno, California, which is located 15 nautical miles northwest of the accident site. At 1330 hours, a surface observation was reporting in part: Sky condition and ceiling, clear; visibility, 20 miles; temperature, 74 degrees F; dew point, 42 degrees F; wind, 360 degrees at 10 knots; altimeter, 29.89 inHg.

Reedley Municipal Airport is equipped with one hard surfaced runway on a 150/330 degree magnetic orientation. Runway 33 is 3,300 feet long by 50 feet wide, and is equipped with medium intensity runway lights.