Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Columbia, CA
On May 31, 2004, a Piper PA-28R-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Columbia, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 31, 2004
- Place
- Columbia, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.021°N, 120.416°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040608X00763
Official records · LAX04FA226
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 31, 2004, at 1056 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N7626J, collided with level terrain following a loss of engine power after takeoff from runway 17 at Columbia Airport (O22), Columbia, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane was destroyed in the post impact fire. The private pilot/owner (seated in the right seat) and the commercial pilot (seated in the left seat) sustained fatal injuries. The cross-country flight originated from the Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV) at 0900, and stopped at O22 before departing for the return flight to MEV about 1050. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Several witnesses located at various locations on the airport heard the accident airplane's engine "missing, sputtering, and backfiring" during the takeoff roll. One witness reported that during the engine run up, he did not hear the engine "make full rpm," like other airplanes that he had heard on previous occasions. He watched the airplane taxi onto the runway and begin its takeoff roll. The airplane did not "make much speed," and he could hear it backfire after it traveled about 100 feet down the runway. The witness stated that the airplane continued down the runway and the engine backfired again. He lost sight of it as it passed a small knoll and he expected to see the airplane get airborne. A few minutes later he saw smoke at the south end of the runway. Another witness reported hearing a rough sounding engine. When he turned toward t
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reason during takeoff-initial climb, and the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall/mush. Factors associated with the accident are an inadvertent stall/mush, and the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.
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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.
