# Accident 19930131001319A: Piper PA31310, Columbia, CA, January 31, 1993

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 31, 1993, 22:30 local time
- Place: Columbia, CA
- Airport: Columbia Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.1099° N, 120.3800° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1099&lon=-120.3800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16SC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16SC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31 (registry code 7103103, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31310
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540A2B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,601 total, 663 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX93LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA109) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930131001319A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FINAL RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE. LANDED SAFELY. WAS TOO LOW ON APPROACH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX93LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA109), Feb 1, 1993: Piper PA-31 (N16SC), Columbia, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHTING CONDITIONS WHICH MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE PILOT'S PERCEPTUAL…

## Other reports on N16SC (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20250930014159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250930014159A), Sep 30, 2025: Piper PA-31 (N16SC), Kotlik, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot reported they got distracted by rain/weather on the downwind when performing their flow, missed the step of lowering the landing gear and then missed the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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