# Accident 20040711016039A: Piper PA28161, Bridgeport, CA, July 11, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 11, 2004, 14:15 local time
- Place: Bridgeport, CA
- Airport: Bryant Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2653° N, 119.3864° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2653&lon=-119.3864&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6106H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6106H-2005-05-04) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 130 total, 13 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA260) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040711016039A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT DEPARTED BRIDGEPORT, CA (O57) AT 13:45 LOCAL. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL CLIMBING 360 DEGREE TURNS TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 8,500 FEET MSL. THE PILOT HEADED WEST TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT OF WATSONVILLE, CA (WVI). WHEN CROSSING THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, THE PILOT REPORTED EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT AND THEN RIGHT; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED WITH EACH TURN. THE PILOT THEN PERFORMED A STRAIGHT AHEAD LANDING AT THE APPROXIMATE 9,800 FOOT LEVEL. THE LEFT MAIN AND NOSE LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THERE WAS NO POST ACCIDENT 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 LAX04LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA260), Jul 11, 2004: Piper PA-28-161 (N6106H), Bridgeport, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to attain an adequate altitude to clear mountainous terrain during a high density altitude condition.

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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