Piper PA-30 accident near Nipomo, CA
On February 22, 2003, a Piper PA-30 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Nipomo, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- February 22, 2003
- Place
- Nipomo, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.985°N, 120.567°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030315X00342
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 21, 2003, at 1757 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-30, N9YB, descended to ground impact in a nose down attitude on level terrain near Nipomo, California. The airline transport pilot (ATP)/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The ATP pilot, and a passenger, who held a private pilot certificate, were fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area early evening flight that departed the Santa Maria Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California, about 1740. No flight plan had been filed. The wreckage was at 32 degrees 59.515 minutes north latitude and 120 degrees 34.171 minutes west longitude. According to tower personnel at SMX, other than the initial call for takeoff at 1710, they were not in communication with the accident airplane. At 1810, a California Highway Patrol (CHP 70) helicopter notified the controller of a downed airplane 7.8 miles northwest of the airport. About 10 minutes later, CHP 70 confirmed the downed airplane was N9YB. Recorded weather for SMX at 1751 reported winds from 330 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; a scattered cloud layer at 20,000 feet; temperature 56 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 48 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter setting 30.05 inches of Mercury. According to sun/moon data obtained from the United States Naval Observatory, the sun had set at 1750 the day of the accident, and the end of civil twilight occurred at 1816. WITNESS STATEMENTS A ground witness, working an adjacent field about 1/8th mile away, stated that he saw an airplane in a spi
Probable cause
the flying pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed that resulted in a stall/spin.
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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.
