# Accident 20040531009849A: Piper PA28R180, Columbia, CA, May 31, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 2004, 10:56 local time
- Place: Columbia, CA
- Airport: Columbia Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0211° N, 120.4156° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0211&lon=-120.4156&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7626J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7626J-2005-12-02) (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
- Reported engine: LYC IO360B1E
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 325 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04FA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA226) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040531009849A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 05/31/2004, AT 1056 HOURS PDT, A PIPER PA-28R-180 MODEL AIRCRAFT, N7626J, COLLIDED WITH LEVEL TERRAIN FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 17 AT COLUMBIA AIRPORT (O22), SONORA, CA. THE PILOT/OWNER OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE PRIVATE PILOT (OWNER) WAS SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT, AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS SEATED IN THE LEFT SEAT. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 1/4 MILE OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 17 ON TOP OF A HILL. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 35 FEET FROM THE FIRST IDENTIFIED POINT-OF-CONTACT, IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE. THE LEFT WING ROOT/FUEL TANK AREA STRUCK A ROCK OUTCROPPING; THIS COMPROMISED THE LEFT FUEL TANK, CAUSING A POST-IMPACT FIRE. IMPACT DAMAGE DID NOT COMPROMISE THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK. THE ENSUING FIRE DESTROYED THE CABIN OF THE AIRCRAFT. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT, THEY HEARD THE ENGINE "MISSING, SPUTTERING AND NOT SOUNDING NORMAL" DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. ONE WITNESS STATED HE HEARD A "BACKFIRE" WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS DOWN THE RUNWAY.

## 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 LAX04FA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA226), May 31, 2004: Piper PA-28R-180 (N7626J), Columbia, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reason during takeoff-initial climb, and the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall/mush. Factors associated with the accident are…

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.