Piper Aerostar 601P accident near Stonyford, CA

On January 31, 2002, a Piper Aerostar 601P (airplane) was involved in an accident near Stonyford, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

January 31, 2002

Place

Stonyford, CA

Aircraft

Piper Aerostar 601P · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

39.436°N, 122.696°W

NTSB ID

20020205X00185

Official records · LAX02FA073

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 30, 2002, at 1854 Pacific standard time, a Piper Aerostar 601P twin engine airplane, N3636M, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain near Stonyford, California. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by the pilot as a business flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Chico, California, at 1837, and was destined for Ukiah, California. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicated the pilot contacted the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) at 1849:22, and requested flight following and radar vectors to the Ukiah Airport. The controller requested the pilot verify his position, to which he responded, he was approximately halfway between Ukiah and Chico on about the 230 radial from the Chico VOR. The air traffic controller determined the airplane was not in his area of responsibility and instructed the pilot to contact Oakland Center (same ARTCC, different sector) on a different radio frequency. At 1850:55, the pilot contacted the other Oakland Center sector and advised, "I'm about halfway between Chico and Ukiah enroute Ukiah at sixty seven hundred descending, squawking VFR (visual flight rules). I'd appreciate flight following and vectors to Ukiah." The controller radar identified the airplane, confirmed the altitude, and requested the pilot's current heading. The pilot indicated the airplane was flying

Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during cruise flight, which resulted in the in-flight collision with mountainous terrain. Factors in the accident were the mountainous terrain and the dark night light conditions.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.