# Accident 20040121001339A: Piper PA32R300, Bishop, CA, January 21, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 21, 2004, 08:45 local time
- Place: Bishop, CA
- Airport: Bishop Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: JIKA
- Location: 37.1064° N, 118.2992° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1064&lon=-118.2992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8701E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8701E-2007-05-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total, 110 in this make and model, 108 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04FA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA102) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040121001339A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JANUARY 21, 2004, ABOUT 0845 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME. A PIPER PA-32R-300 REGISTERED AS N8701E WAS DESTROYED IN THE POST-IMPACT FIRE DURING A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN 16.3 MILES SOUTH OF BISHOP, CA ON BEARING 335 DEGREES, ALTITUDE @ 5860. AMERIFLIGHT, INC. OWNED AND OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT AS AMF FLIGHT 132 UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF PART 135 AS A NONSCHEDULED DOMESTIC CARGO FLIGHT. AIRCRAFT INITIAL OBSERVATION WAS SITTING WINGS LEVEL IN NORTHERLY DIRECTION. GROUND STRIKE APPROX. 10' FROM TAIL POSITION. AIRCRAFT IS APPROX. 8 TO 12' HIGHER THAN IMPACT AREA. AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE EXCEPT THE TAIL AND MOST OF THE WINGS AND OCCUPANT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE.

## 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 LAX04FA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA102), Jan 21, 2004: Piper PA-32R-300 (N8701E), Big Pine, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with mountainous terrain for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N8701E (1)

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

- [Incident 19990603017169I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990603017169I), Jun 3, 1999: Piper PA32R300 (N8701E), El Monte, CA, Minor damage. [privacy data omitted] Fiberglass failed at the junction of the fiberglass and metal strip at bottom of cowling. This failure in flight caused the cowling to…

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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