Piper PA-32-260 accident near Rio Linda, CA
On December 24, 2025, a Piper PA-32-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Rio Linda, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 24, 2025
- Place
- Rio Linda, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.666°N, 121.448°W
- NTSB ID
- 20251224202208
NTSB summary
On December 24, 2025, at approximately 1230 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32-260, N2785Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rio Linda, California. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the pilot-rated passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to friends of the pilot, the airplane had not flown since August, and the purpose of the flight was for the pilot, who was the owner, to maintain proficiency. No ADS-B data was available for the flight; however, it appeared to have departed from runway 17 at its home base, Rio Linda Airport (L36), at about 1228. Witnesses located about one-half mile south of the airport reported seeing the airplane flying at low altitude in a southbound direction away from the airport. One witness stated that they could not hear the sound of an engine and assumed the airplane was attempting to land in a field. The airplane came to rest in a grass field about 2,200 ft south-southwest of the departure end of runway 17. The first identified point of impact was a 25-ft-long ground disruption that contained fragments of paint chips and composite material. The debris field continued on a heading of about 240°, leading to the right wing, which had detached at the wing root along with the nose gear assembly and right flap. The main fuselage was located about 90 ft farther downrange and had come to rest generally intact and upright. The left wing was separated at the root, essentially undamaged, and had come to rest inverted just
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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.
