Piper PA-28-161 accident near Half Moon Bay, CA
On May 23, 1998, a Piper PA-28-161 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Half Moon Bay, CA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 23, 1998
- Place
- Half Moon Bay, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.440°N, 122.410°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10137
NTSB summary
On May 22, 1998, at 2107 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2480Q, descended into the Pacific ocean after takeoff from the Half Moon Bay, California, airport. The aircraft was destroyed, and the private pilot and three passengers all suffered fatal injuries. The personal flight originated from the Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, California, at 1850, and stopped at Half Moon Bay. No flight plan was filed. A pilot-witness who departed from the airport about 30 minutes after the accident aircraft reported the weather conditions as 1,200 feet overcast, with tops at 2,500 feet. The witness also noted that it was a very dark night with only a 10 percent moon illumination. The pilot rented the aircraft from Inbound Aviation at the Reid-Hillview airport, and was to return the aircraft that evening. About 1930, the pilot-witness reported seeing the accident aircraft parked on the ramp at the Half Moon Bay airport when he arrived from San Jose. He stated that he recognized the aircraft as one operated by Inbound Aviation. He further reported that the aircraft was no longer there at 2130 when he departed for San Jose. Employees of a restaurant in Half Moon Bay reported serving four men who matched the descriptions of the men believed to have been onboard the accident aircraft. Several ground witnesses were located on the shore south of the airport just after 2100, and reported that they heard an approaching plane and saw it flying low northbound along the beach. They all said that they could not see what color the plane was, but could see the lights on its wings. The
Probable cause
The non-instrument rated pilot's loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation in dark night conditions.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
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.
