# Accident 20050801016669A: Piper PA28151, San Luis Obispo, CA, August 1, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2005, 21:52 local time
- Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Airport: San Luis Obispo County
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2528° N, 120.6250° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2528&lon=-120.6250&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4401X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4401X-2011-03-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-151 (registry code 7102805, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28151
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 80 total, 72 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05FA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05FA255) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050801016669A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 LAX05FA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05FA255), Aug 2, 2005: Piper PA-28-151 (N4401X), San Luis Obispo, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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…

## Other reports on N4401X (1)

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

- [Incident 19970216004739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970216004739I), Feb 16, 1997: Piper PA28151 (N4401X), Fresno, CA. Landed at fat sans clearance. Greeted by security. Landed wrong airport. Fat instead fch 5 miles south. Not current

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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