Piper PA-31T accident near McKinleyville, CA

On July 29, 2016, a Piper PA-31T (airplane) was involved in an accident near McKinleyville, CA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

July 29, 2016

Place

McKinleyville, CA

Aircraft

Piper PA-31T · Airplane

Injuries

4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

41.027°N, 124.010°W

NTSB ID

20160729X31455

Official records · WPR16FA153

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• Air Traffic Aircraft Accident Package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Recorded Air Traffic Control Radar Data (Plot) Figure 1: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Recorded Air Traffic Control Radar Data (Plot) Figure 2: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control - Radar Data: Document (XLSX), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 29, 2016, about 0105 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II airplane, N661TC, broke up in flight and impacted the ground shortly after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit near Arcata/Eureka Airport (KACV), McKinleyville, California. The airline transport pilot, two medical personnel, and the patient were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was being operated by Cal-Ore Life Flight as an instrument flight rules (IFR) air ambulance flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 when the accident occurred. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed Jack Mc Namara Field (KCEC), Crescent City, California, at 0045 destined for Oakland International Airport (KAOK), Oakland, California. A postaccident review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar data and voice communication revealed that, the medical transport flight, which was using the call sign Lifeguard November (LN) 661TC, departed KCEC, was radar identified by air traffic control, was instructed to climb to 15,000 ft mean sea level (msl), and was cleared to KAOK as filed. At 0058:13, the pilot contacted the Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZSE) controller working the flight and stated that he was going to turn back to Crescent City and that he was smelling smoke in the cockpit. Radar data indicated that the airplane's altitude about that time was 14,900 ft msl, and the airplane was on a southeast heading. At 0058:25, the ZSE controller cl

Probable cause

An inflight fire in the floor area near the main bus tie circuit breaker panel that resulted from chafing between an electrical wire and a hydraulic line and/or airplane structure.

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Browse: California · Piper aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.