# Accident 20020114000409A: Piper PA28180, Groveland, CA, January 14, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: January 14, 2002, 14:50 local time - Place: Groveland, CA - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 36.1564° N, 119.3261° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1564&lon=-119.3261&mi=10 - Aircraft: N3624R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3624R-2012-08-27) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA066) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020114000409A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) THE PILOT RAN LOW ON FUEL AFTER THE WEATHER HAD DETERIORATED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO LAND AT HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. AFTER SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM OAKLAND ARTCC, HE DECIDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD PRIOR TO FUEL DEPLETION. HE LANDED IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION ON SR 120 APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES EAST OF GROVELAND, CA. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND WINGS. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. THE PILOT'S HEAD STRUCK THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD AND HE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, FACIAL LACERATIONS, AND A CUT ON HIS LEFT LEG. HE WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT BUT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE A SHOULDER RESTRAINT. THE PILOT WAS TREATED AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND RELEASED ON THE SAME DATE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING THROUGHOUT APPROACH AND LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION INDICATED THERE WAS EITHER NO FUEL OR AN INDECTABLE AMOUNT OF RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE TWO TANKS. WITNESSES STATED THAT FOG FORMED LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT WITH VISIBILITY OF LESS THAN 500.' (.19) ON JANUARY 14, 2002, ABOUT 1450 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-28-180, N3624R, OPERATED BY THE OWNER/PILOT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING AT GROVELAND, CALIFORNIA, WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS. THE FORCED LANDING WAS PRECIPITATED BY IMMINENT FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PRIVATE RATED PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE DEPARTURE POINT FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA, ABOUT 0945, AND WAS DESTINED FOR TULARE, CALIFORNIA. WHEN THE PILOT ARRIVED IN THE TULARE AREA HE WAS CONFRONTED WITH A LOW STRATUS CLOUD CONDITION. HE DIVERTED TO PINE MOUNTAIN LAKE, CALIFORNIA, AND LANDED. HE CONTACTED AN OPERATOR AT THE TULARE AIRPORT, WHO TOLD HIM THAT THERE WERE VISUAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS THERE WITH CLOUD BASES ABOUT 1,500 TO 2,000 FEET. HE DEPARTED PINE MOUNTAIN LAKE AND PROCEEDED TOWARDS TULARE. UNABLE TO DESCEND THROUGH OR MANEUVER AROUND THE STRATUS, HE RETURNED TO PINE MOUNTAIN LAKE, WHICH WAS NOW COVERED BY THE STRATUS DECK, AS WERE OTHER LOCAL AIRPORTS. REALIZING HE WAS NOW TOO LOW ON FUEL TO REACH AN AIRPORT IN VISUAL CONDITIONS, HE CONTACTED OAKLAND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE. THE CENTER PROVIDED VECTORS TOWARDS AIRPORTS, BUT DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE AIRPORTS. THE CONSENSUS WAS TO LAND THE AIRPLANE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BEFORE FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT SPOTTED A FORESTRY CAMP WITH A WINDSOCK NEAR HIGHWAY 120, ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF GROVELAND. HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN LANDING ON THE HIGHWAY; HOWEVER, THE HIGHWAY HAD A CURVE THAT PREVENTED HIM FROM SEEING AN ON-COMING VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BUT THE WING TIP CLIPPED IT, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL AND COLLIDE WITH TREES. ## 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 LAX02LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA066), Jan 14, 2002: Piper PA-28-180 (N3624R), Groveland, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper preflight planning and improper weather evaluation. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.