# Accident 19980522046479A: Piper PA28161, May 22, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 22, 1998, 21:07 local time
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4399° N, 122.4103° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4399&lon=-122.4103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2480Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2480Q-2012-09-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA172) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980522046479A

## Narrative

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

(-23) A/C DEPARTED REID-HILLVIEW AIRPORT ON 5/22/98 ENROUTE TO HALF MOON BAY AIRPORT (HAF). AIRCRAFT SPOTTED ON RAMP AT HAF ON 6/22/98 AT 1930 BUT, NOT SEE ON HAF'S RAMP AT 2130. WITNESS REPORTED SEEING SOME AIRCRAFT LIGHTS COMING FROM HAF AT 2100 PDT ON 6/22/98. WITNESS ALSO REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE A/C LIGHTS DISAPPEARED HE HEARD A LOUD CRASH BELIEVED TO BE THE A/C. A/C REPORTED MISSING ON 6/23/98 BY AIRCRAFT OWNER AT REID-HILLVIEW AIRPORT. ON 6/23/98 A SEAT CUSHION WAS PULLED FROM BAY BY A FISHERMAN. THE SEAT CUSHION WAS DETERMINED TO BE FROM A PIPER PA-28-161. AIRCRAFT OF A/C OCCUPANTS HAVE NOT BEEN LOCATED.

## 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 LAX98LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA172), May 23, 1998: Piper PA-28-161 (N2480Q), Half Moon Bay, CA, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot's loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation in dark night conditions.

## Other reports on N2480Q (1)

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

- [Incident 19880830055259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880830055259I), Aug 30, 1988: Piper PA28161 (N2480Q), San Jose, CA, Minor damage. Student lost directional control, landed fast. Veered off runway. Not enough supervision by instructor.

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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