Piper PA-23-160 accident near Santa Maria, CA
On September 8, 2006, a Piper PA-23-160 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Santa Maria, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 8, 2006
- Place
- Santa Maria, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.899°N, 120.457°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060916X01353
Official records · LAX06FA289
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 8, 2006, about 1433 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-23-160, N3082P, collided with terrain at Santa Maria, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was killed; the airplane was destroyed. The personal cross-country flight departed the Santa Maria Public/Capt G Allan Hancock Field (SMX), Santa Maria, about 1430, with a planned destination of Kern Valley Airport (L05), Kernville, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. A Santa Maria tower controller reported that he cleared the pilot for a downwind departure from runway 30 at 1428. He observed the airplane depart, enter a left turn, and then depart the pattern. The controller had no further contact with the pilot. A ground witness heard an airplane maneuvering, but could not see it because of low-lying clouds in the area. He said that the engines sounded steady and smooth. Then he heard the engines sound increase similar to an airshow performer during a roll. Then the engines sounds stopped abruptly. The witness got in his truck and drove into the hills on his ranch. He observed a cloud of dust, and found the wreckage. He estimated that the cloud base was about 200 to 300 feet above ground level (agl) in the hilly terrain. Another witness reported that the engine sounds caught his attention. He observed the airplane exit the clouds in a very nose low attitude. He estimated the cloud base at 400 feet agl. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA
Probable cause
The non-instrument rated pilot's decision to continue flight into instrument meteorological conditions resulting in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.
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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.
