# Accident 20040227011179A: Piper PA28R180, Pinemontainclub, CA, February 27, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 27, 2004, 20:45 local time
- Place: Pinemontainclub, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8658° N, 119.1642° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8658&lon=-119.1642&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7687J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7687J-2013-11-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04FA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA139) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040227011179A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAIN NORTH OF PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA AT 6683 FEET ELEVATION. THE AUDIO TAPES INDICATE THAT THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO STAY VFR ENROUTE TO SACRAMENTO. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY BAKERSFIELD APPROACH THAT HE WAS BELOW THE MVA APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED AND STATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE GROUND. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME AS STATED BY WITNESSES ON THE GROUND WAS OVERCAST. THE CLOUDS WERE JUST ABOVE THE MOUNTAIN RANGE TO THE SOUTH OF PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FLEW OVER, BUT THE CLOUDS WERE BELOW THE MOUNTAIN TOPS ON THE RANGE TO THE NORTH OF PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. IT WAS NIGHT TIME/DARK. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE DID NOT INDICATE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.

## 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 LAX04FA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA139), Feb 28, 2004: Piper PA-28R-180 (N7687J), Pine Mtn Club, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued visual flight into adverse weather conditions at night, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain. The pilot's failure to obtain preflight weather…

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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