Piper PA-11 accident near Copperopolis, CA
On June 16, 2019, a Piper PA-11 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Copperopolis, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 16, 2019
- Place
- Copperopolis, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-11 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.899°N, 120.586°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190616X81748
Official records · WPR19FA173
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 16, 2019, about 1145 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-11 airplane, N209H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Copperopolis, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. A friend of the pilot reported that, earlier in the morning of the day of the accident, the pilot had sent him a text message, which said that he was going to do a “fly by” over the lake. The friend told the pilot to let him know when he was 5 or 10 minutes out. The friend stated that, when he saw the airplane, it was about 150 ft above the water and that the pilot did a “wing wag.” Several witnesses located on or near Lake Tulloch at the time of the accident reported seeing the airplane flying at a low altitude heading south over the lake and then strike power lines. Subsequently, the airplane descended nose down into the water. One witness took a series of photos that showed the airplane over the lake. (See figure 1 for a compilation of three of the photographs showing the airplane nearing the power poles.) Local law enforcement located the airplane, which was submerged in about 110 ft of water near the power lines and recovered it 2 days after the accident. Figure 1. A compilation of three photographs of the airplane as it neared the power poles (all photographs are courtesy of the witness). WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONRepresentatives from the utility company that owned the power lines reported that, 16 days after the accident, a survey crew measured
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment from consuming alcohol before the flight.
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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.
