Piper PA-38 accident near San Luis Obispo, CA
On October 1, 2000, a Piper PA-38 (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Luis Obispo, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 1, 2000
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.250°N, 120.619°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X22001
Official records · LAX00FA354
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 30, 2000, about 2235 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-38, N2493G, was destroyed by impact with terrain near San Luis Obispo, California. The private pilot was seriously injured and the sole passenger was fatally injured. The personal flight, operated by Mazzei Flying Service under 14 CFR Part 91, departed from the San Luis Obispo County-McChesney Field airport about 2230, and was destined for Fresno Yosemite International airport at Fresno, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. At 0042, on October 1, 2000, a caller to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department emergency (911) dispatcher reported that he had crashed his airplane and needed help. See "COMMUNICATIONS," below, for information about this phone call. The pilot later told the Safety Board investigator that the purpose of the trip from Fresno to San Luis Obispo was to visit friends there. He and his passenger arrived about midday, serviced the aircraft, and left the airport with his friends. After spending the afternoon and evening, they left his friend's house to return to the airport about 10 P.M. He recalled being only slightly apprehensive as he preflighted the airplane and taxied for departure. He said that his apprehension was more due to concern about doing a good job of flying because his passenger was his best friend and he wanted to put her at ease. He had flown to San Luis Obispo previously, but never at night. He said that after takeoff they climbed out toward Fresno, and the flight was normal for about 5 minutes u
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while turning to reverse course following inadvertent nighttime flight into instrument meteorological conditions. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in nighttime operations.
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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.
