Piper PA-28-140 accident near Holtville, CA
On December 28, 1994, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Holtville, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 28, 1994
- Place
- Holtville, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.830°N, 115.191°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X02737
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 27, 1994, at 1823 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4647R, collided with desert terrain during a precautionary landing attempt on an interstate highway near Holtville, California. Based on weather reports from a local airport and a ground witness, marginal visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with visibility restricted by ground fog existed at the intended destination. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash sequence and postcrash fire. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated at Palo Alto, California, at approximately 1400 on the day of the accident and was reportedly destined for Yuma, Arizona. At approximately 1735 a witness pilot (No. 1), who was also inbound to Imperial from the north, contacted UNICOM on 122.7. He advised Imperial traffic that he was at 8,000 feet over Salton City and requested landing information. Imperial UNICOM reported "visibility 1 1/2 miles, winds calm, runway 32 in use." About this time, he heard the accident pilot also calling Imperial UNICOM. He reported his position as 38 miles north of the Imperial VOR at 7,000 feet. During his radio transmission, he asked "what visibility 1 1/2 miles meant." The witness pilot (No. 1) of the first aircraft thought the accident pilot sounded inexperienced, so by radio he offered to try to help direct him to the Imperial airport. He asked the accident pilot to turn on his landing light so that he could verify his position. The accident pilot complied, and his location was identified by the witness pilot (No. 1) as being approximately 5 mile
Probable cause
the pilot's becoming lost/disoriented during a night cross- country flight at a time the flight was in a critical low fuel state, and his failure to maintain aircraft control during a go-around from an aborted precautionary landing. Factors in the accident were: 1) the pilot's inadequate inflight fuel consumption calculations; 2) his failure to refuel the aircraft; 3) his failure to use all availa
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Browse: California · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
