20050801016669A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-151 · San Luis Obispo, CA · August 1, 2005

Date: August 1, 2005 · 21:52 local
Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
Airport: San Luis Obispo County
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4401X
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX05FA255
Reported as: Piper PA28151
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 80 total72 in this make and model

N4401XRegistration cancelled Mar 8, 2011 · Piper PA-28-151S/N 28-7615007 · Built 1975 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-151 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft departed San Luis Obispo (sbp), CA runway 11, made a left turn heading directly toward isley hill elevation approximately 777 feet. The ceiling at the time was estimated to be between 700 and 800 feet. However, one (1) witness estimated the overcast layer to be as low as 400 feet. The witness stated that the engine sounded normal up to the point of seeing the flash when the aircraft impacted isley hill. The on-scene investigation conducted by this office revealed the aircraft impacted isley hill at approximately the 740 foot level and exploded on impact. For additional information relating to this accident the witness statements are attached to this report.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED SAN LUIS OBISPO (SBP), CA RUNWAY 11, MADE A LEFT TURN HEADING DIRECTLY TOWARD ISLEY HILL ELEVATION APPROXIMATELY 777 FEET. THE CEILING AT THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 700 AND 800 FEET. HOWEVER, ONE (1) WITNESS ESTIMATED THE OVERCAST LAYER TO BE AS LOW AS 400 FEET. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL UP TO THE POINT OF SEEING THE FLASH WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ISLEY HILL. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THIS OFFICE REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ISLEY HILL AT APPROXIMATELY THE 740 FOOT LEVEL AND EXPLODED ON IMPACT. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT THE WITNESS STATEMENTS ARE ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX05FA255Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSan Luis Obispo, CAThe pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance from the rising hilly terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's inexperience regarding flying during the dark, nighttime condition, and the low…Aug 2, 2005 · Destroyed

Other reports on N4401X · 1

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

Incident 19970216004739ILevel Off Touchdown · Fresno, CALanded at fat sans clearance. Greeted by security. Landed wrong airport. Fat instead fch 5 miles south. Not currentFeb 16, 1997