# Accident 20100813042149A: Piper PA-28R-201, Emigrant Gap, CA, August 13, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 13, 2010, 12:45 local time
- Place: Emigrant Gap, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.4000° N, 120.0147° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4000&lon=-120.0147&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3463Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3463Q-2011-05-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-201 (registry code 7102816, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 333 total, 22 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10FA399](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA399) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100813042149A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 13, 2010 PILOT, GABRIEL A. SUAREZ CERTIFICATE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS TRAINING FOR  MOUNTAIN FLYING UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF CFI ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, CFI 2783166.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED, BY SEVERAL CAMPERS, FLYING AT TREE TOP LEVEL UP THE NARROW CANYON OF THE EAST FORK OF THE NORTH FORK OF THE AMERICAN RIVER IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS.  ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER THE CAMPERS HEARD A LOUD IMPACT FOLLOWED BY A SECOND LOUD IMPACT MOMENTS LATER.  THE CAMPERS HIKED UP THE CANYON AND LOCATED THE WRECKAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, FINDING TWO DECEASED PERSONS IN AND ABOUT THE WRECKAGE.  WITENSSES STATED THAT THEY DID NOT OBSERVE ANY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AS IT OVER FLEW THE CAMPGROUND AND THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AND UNDER POWER.  INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A SLIGHT LEFT CLIMBING TURN WHEN THE AIRCRAFTS LEFT WING HIT A TREE AND ONE HALF OF THE LEFT WING SEPERATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED LEFT AND CONTINUED FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 100 YARDS WHERE IT IMPACTED A SECOND TREE INVERTED.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND PLUMMETED STRAIGHT DOWN THE TREE TRUNK COMING TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION.  THE ENGINE, NOSE GEAR, AND COWL HAD SEPERATED AT THE SECOND IMPACT AND CONTINUED FORWARD FOR ANOTHER 20 - 25 YARDS FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 WPR10FA399](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA399), Aug 13, 2010: Piper PA28R (N3463Q), Emigrant Gap, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots’ failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

## Other reports on N3463Q (2)

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

- [Incident 20011106035039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011106035039I), Nov 6, 2001: Piper PA28R201 (N3463Q), Zanesville, OH, Minor damage. (-23) Mr. James carpenter (pilot, was receiving his biannual flight review) and Mr. John tylor (CFI) both indicated that they were on final approach on runway…
- [Incident 20001228030819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001228030819I), Dec 28, 2000: Piper PA28R201 (N3463Q), Columbia Statio, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot landed on runway 36 at Columbia station airport (4G8) the runway was covered with 5/7 inches of fresh snow. The pilot touched-down without…

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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