LAX86FA039

Factual narrative

WITNESSES SAW THE PLT DEPART WITH FROST COVERING THE ACFT & WITHOUT EITHER A RUNUP OR WARMUP. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT 'SCRAPED THE FROST FROM A SMALL SQUARE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM ON THE WINDSHIELD' JUST PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 22 & 17 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY FOR THE EARLY MORNING DEPARTURE, & THE ACFT REMAINED OVERNIGHT IN THE COLD TEMPS WITH PARTIALLY EMPTY FUEL TANKS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER. PLT BEGAN A DESCENDING LEFT 270 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARD THE RWY & CRASHED INTO A DRY RIVER BANK WITH LITTLE FORWARD VELOCITY & MODERATE VERTICAL SPEED. EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO MECHAINCAL PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENG. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12