Piper PA 24-250 accident near Garberville, CA
On November 21, 2014, a Piper PA 24-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Garberville, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 21, 2014
- Place
- Garberville, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 24-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.077°N, 123.821°W
- NTSB ID
- 20141121X43003
Official records · WPR15FA045
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 21, 2014, about 1000 Pacific standard time, a Piper Aircraft PA-24-250 Comanche, N7428P, collided with a tree while on approach to the Garberville Airport, Garberville, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The personal flight originated from Cameron Airpark, Cameron Park, California, with a planned destination of Garberville. Unknown meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to make the routine 155-nautical-mile (nm) cross-country trip to Garberville, where he would stay for a week duration and serve as the communities' Emergency Room (ER) doctor and the hospital's Medical Director. The pilot would make this trip about once per month and would telephone hospital staff to pick him up after he landed. There were numerous witnesses who observed the airplane maneuvering toward the airport at a very low altitude just below the cloud layer. Most witnesses estimated the airplane was about 100-200 feet above the tree tops. One witness, located on a hill about 1.5 nm southwest of the airport, stated that the airplane was lower than normal and the engine did not sound as if it was producing full power (quieter than normal). Witnesses closer to the accident site noted that the airplane was not emitting any noise. The witness who was the closest to the impact stated that he heard a loud sou
Probable cause
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive damage sustained during the collision and postaccident water immersion.
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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.
