Piper PA-24-250 accident near Death Valley, CA
On December 23, 1995, a Piper PA-24-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Death Valley, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 23, 1995
- Place
- Death Valley, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.601°N, 116.830°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X05023
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 23, 1995, about 1245 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7304P, was destroyed after colliding with mountainous terrain near Death Valley, California. The pilot was fatally injured. According to witnesses, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Nervino, California, on the day of the accident about 1030 hours, and was destined for Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Concerned family members notified the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies when the aircraft did not arrive at its destination. They also contacted various airports along the route. The nearest airport to the accident site was Furnace Creek Airport in Death Valley. Personnel at the Furnace Creek Inn stated there was no traffic in or out of the airport that day due to low clouds and generally poor weather. According to a friend of the pilot, he would stop at Furnace Creek en route to Lake Havasu to drop off a Christmas tree for friends. The FAA Prescott Automated Flight Service Station issued an ALNOT for the overdue aircraft. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) initiated a search. During the course of the search, the CAP obtained radar data from various radar facilities both military and FAA. There was no flight plan, positive radar identification, or voice communication during the flight. The radar data was reviewed for VFR 1200 code aircraft based on a probable route of flight and approximate times. The radar data that had been generated during the search nearest the a
Probable cause
the non-instrument rated pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions.
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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.
