Piper PA28R accident near Emigrant Gap, CA
On August 13, 2010, a Piper PA28R (airplane) was involved in an accident near Emigrant Gap, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 13, 2010
- Place
- Emigrant Gap, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.400°N, 120.015°W
- NTSB ID
- 20100813X83253
Official records · WPR10FA399
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 13, 2010, about 1245 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N3463Q, impacted pine trees and terrain in the Tahoe National Forest, near Emigrant Gap, California. Monterey Bay Aviation, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91, as a cross-country flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot receiving instruction were fatally injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN), Auburn, California. No flight plan had been filed. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight had originally departed Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI), Watsonville, California, about 1030, with a planned destination of Auburn; an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight. FAA records revealed that the IFR flight plan had been closed once the flight reached Auburn. According to the FAA, the pilots had gotten refreshments at the airport restaurant and then departed the airport about 1215. Witnesses located at the Tunnel Mills campsite reported that the accident airplane flew over their campsite between 1230 and 1300, while they were eating lunch. The airplane was low-flying, just above the tree tops on a heading of 120 degrees. Witnesses said the engine was running and sounded normal; no sputtering. After disappearing from their view, they heard two "bangs" followed by silence. Afterward the campers were able to locate the accident site, and r
Probable cause
The pilots’ failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
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.
