LAX98LA172 · Piper PA-28-161

The non-instrument rated pilot rented the aircraft and was to return the it that evening. A pilot-witness recognized the accident aircraft parked on the ramp and reported that the aircraft was no longer there at 2130 when he departed. The pilot-witness stated that the weather conditions were 1,200 feet overcast, with tops at 2,500 feet, and a very dark night. Radar data disclosed a 1200 code secondary beacon at a mode C reported altitude of 300 feet just off the north end of the runway at 2103:03. The next 12 beacon returns depicted a climbing left downwind departure that achieved an altitude of 1,700 feet. The final return displayed a 900-foot altitude at 2106:03. Several ground witnesses located on the shore south of the airport reported they heard an approaching plane and saw it flying low northbound along the beach just after 2100. They could not see the color of the aircraft, but could see the lights on its wings. The witnesses stated that the engine made a sputtering sound. The airplane continued north and began to climb. They heard a high pitched whining sound and the plane rolled left and out of their sight. The witnesses then reported that they heard a loud crash. The next day, a fisherman pulled aboard a seat that was determined to be from a Piper PA-28. Fragmented human remains were found by search units washed up on shore, with articles of clothing identified by family members as belonging to the pilot. A wallet containing identification from one of the passengers was also later found on the beach.

Verbatim NTSB analysis and probable cause from the NTSB dataset