Piper PA-24 accident near Independence, CA
On August 16, 2000, a Piper PA-24 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Independence, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 16, 2000
- Place
- Independence, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.831°N, 118.241°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21752
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 15, 2000, about 2150 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24, N300P, collided with obstacles and terrain during a night landing at Independence, California. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The personal flight departed Oroville, California, about 1930 as a nonstop flight to Independence. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot's wife, the pilot and passenger were en route to Independence to go backpacking. She stated the couple flew into nearby Lone Pine the previous year on a similar trip, but thought this was her husband's first flight into Independence. The pilot established radio contact with Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) at 1942. He reported he was out of Oroville, climbing through 8,000 feet for 13,500 feet, and requested flight following. At 2008, the pilot lost radio contact with ARTCC, but established contact with Reno Approach Control. After he flew out of Reno's airspace, he reestablished contact with ARTCC at 2025, but then lost contact again at 2042. At 2139, the ARTCC controller coordinated with High Desert TRACON, who verified they had radar contact on the airplane 10 miles south of Bishop, California. At 2148, High Desert TRACON verified they still had contact, and the airplane was descending through 7,500 feet near Independence airport. At 2201, ARTCC contacted High Desert, who reported tha
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. Factors included night conditions, cockpit lighting, which compromised the pilot's night vision, and drug impairment.
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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.
