Piper PA-24-260 accident near Tennant, CA
On July 17, 1996, a Piper PA-24-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tennant, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 17, 1996
- Place
- Tennant, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.890°N, 121.740°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06269
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 17, 1996, about 1415 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260, N9324P, was destroyed after an uncontrolled descent into terrain near Tennant, California. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Marginal visual meteorological conditions had been forecast along the pilot's route of flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at San Jose, California, about 1230 on the day of the accident and was destined for Sisters, Oregon. The pilot's wife was driving to the same location. They talked by cell phone while en route. When the pilot failed to arrive at the destination a search was started. According to recorded radar data, the aircraft was observed at 15,400 feet msl, at which time it started a descent. About 1 minute later it was lost from radar at 11,800 feet msl. There were three witnesses that observed the aircraft descending into the general area of the accident site. Two witnesses stated that it was descending vertically out of the clouds, and one said it was descending at a 45-degree angle with a loud engine sound. The witnesses reported that there were breaks in the overcast with bases about 3,000 feet above ground level. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot's flight logbook was not recovered. According to the pilot's last third-class flight physical which was conducted on July 29, 1994, he had accumulated 2,800 total flight hours with 86 hours in the last 6 months. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION At the time of the accident the aircraft had accumulated about 4,229 total flight hours according to an examination of the airframe logbook
Probable cause
the pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather 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.
