# Accident 20151219021249A: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Bakersfield, CA, December 19, 2015 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: December 19, 2015, 15:55 local time - Place: Bakersfield, CA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 35.2881° N, 119.1475° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2881&lon=-119.1475&mi=10 - Aircraft: N36402, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36402-2018-03-12) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-32RT-300T (registry code 7103216, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T - Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER - People aboard: 5 - Fatal injuries: 5 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 271 total, 56 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA041) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151219021249A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2015, MR. JASON THOMAS PRICE, PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE NUMBER 3651312, OPERATED AS THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF A PIPER PA-32RT-300T, REGISTERED AS N36402, SERIAL NUMBER 32R-7887041. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM REID-HILLVIEW AIRPORT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY (KRHV) IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA DESTINED FOR HENDERSON EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (KHND) IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. THE AIRCRAFT IS REGISTERED TO RAD AVIATION LLC LOCATED AT 1537 DE ANZA WAY, SAN JOSE, CA 95125. THE PILOT FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH CSC DUATS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM KRHV AND ALSO RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING ELECTRONICALLY. MR. PRICE?S PLANNED FLIGHT TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS 6 MINUITES AT 13,500 FEET. THE VFR FLIGHT PLAN THAT WAS FILED WAS NEVER OPENED IN FLIGHT WITH FLIGHT SERVICE. HOWEVER, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) RADAR FLIGHT FOLLOWING WAS UTILIZED EN ROUTE. AT APPROXIMATELY 22:35 UTC, PIPER N36402, WAS OBSERVED DEPARTING KRHV, MAKING A LEFT DOWNWIND DEPARTURE TO THE SOUTHEAST. HE CHECKED IN WITH NORCAL APPROACH AND CONTINUED HIS SOUTH EASTERLY COURSE WHILE CLIMBING IN ALTITUDE. WHILE EN ROUTE OVER CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ISSUED MULTIPLE ADVISORIES REGARDING WEATHER PHENOMENA IN THE VICINITY. AT APPROXIMATETLY 23:50 UTC, ATC ASKED N36402 IF HE WANTED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CLEARANCE TO KHND BECAUSE OF REPORTED AREAS OF MODERATE PRECIPITATION ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. N36402 AGREED TO ACCEPT THE IFR CLEARANCE. AT 23:52 UTC, ATC ISSUED N36402 THE CLEARANCE ?CLEARED TO THE HENDERSON AIRPORT, VIA DIRECT HEC V21 BLD DIRECT, MAINTAIN 15 THOUSAND. N36402 READ BACK THE CLERANCE AND STARTED A TURN TO THE NORTH. AT 23:54:16 ATC INSTRUCTED N36402 TO FLY A HEADING OF 095, WHICH WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY N36402. AT 23:55:20 ATC INSTRUCTED N36402 TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE RIGHT TURN HEADING 095. N36402 DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS INSTRUCTION. AT 23:55:31 UTC, IN THE VICINITY OF BAKERSFIELD, CA, PIPER N36402 DECLARED ?AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL LANCE 402 MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY.? AT 23:55:48 UTC, PIPER N36402 AGAIN DECLARED ?402 MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY? WHICH WAS THE LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ATC RESPONDED AND ATTEMPTED TO PROVIDE N36402 WITH DIRECTION TO BAKERSFIELD AIRPORT. ATC MADE ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH N36402. AT 23:56 UTC, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ALSO LOST RADAR CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP AND CRASHED APPROXAMETELY 9.8 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH BY SOUTH EAST OF MEADOWS FIELD AIRPORT (KBFL) IN BAKERSFIELD, CA. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED IN AN AREA 1/2 STATUE MILE BY 1/3 STATUE MILE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A DITCH LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN END OF THE WRECKAGE AREA. THE REMAINDER OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS SPREAD OUT IN AN ORCHARD LOCATED NORTH OF WHERE THE NOSE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST. ## 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 WPR16FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA041), Dec 19, 2015: Piper PA 32RT-300T (N36402), Bakersfield, CA, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct and continue the flight despite forecast and en route instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which were not conducive to safe operation under… ## Other reports on N36402 (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20100709038729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100709038729A), Jul 9, 2010: Piper PA-32RT-300 (N36402), Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. On July 10, 2010 the pilot of N36402 was landing on runway 03 at the sez airport and stated he did not see the PAPI lights illuminated. Pilot stated he thought… - [Incident 20090712014289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090712014289I), Jul 12, 2009: Piper PA32RT300T (N36402), San Jose, CA, Minor damage. (-23) The pilot stated that upon take off from E16 (south country) he heard and felt a thump at his feet when he raised the gear. All the circuit breakers,… - [Incident 19780927020419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780927020419I), Sep 27, 1978: Piper PA32300T (N36402), Decatur, IL, Minor damage. Nose gear collapsed while taxiing after pilot ran over wheel chock. 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.