# Accident 20191024020379A: Piper PA-28R-180, Shelter Cove, CA, October 24, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 24, 2019, 21:22 local time
- Place: Shelter Cove, CA
- Airport: Shelter Cove
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7892° N, 123.9711° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7892&lon=-123.9711&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4958J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4958J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 120 total, 30 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20FAMS1](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FAMS1) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191024020379A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED NOVATO, CA AT APPROXIMATELY 1800PDT ON A FLIGHT TO SHELTER COVE, CA.  VMC AND NIGHT CONDITIONS PREVAILED.  SHELTER COVE IS AN AIRPORT THAT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH LIGHTING AND DURING LANDING, THE PILOT REQUIRED THE ASSISTANCE OF PERSONS ON THE GROUND USING AUTOMOBILE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE THE RUNWAY. APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER LANDING THE PILOT DEPARTED SHELTER COVE WITH REPORTED INTENTION OF RETURNING TO NOVATO (OR AN INTERMEDIATE STOP).  A LOCAL WITNESS DESCRIBED THE CONDITIONS AT TIME OF TAKEOFF AS COMPLETE DARKNESS AND ABSENCE OF HORIZON REFERENCE.  FAA RADAR DATA DEPICTS AN AIRCRAFT PROCEEDING SOUTH EASTBOUND, AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE AND REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF 2400?MSL (AS REPORTED BY MODE C).  RADAR DATA, WHICH ALSO DEPICTS THE PRIOR FLIGHT INBOUND TO SHELTER COVE,  SHOWS AN ERRATIC FLIGHT TRACK WITH SEVERAL APPARENT 360 DEGREE TURNS.  THE END OF THE TRACK DEPICTS A TURN FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF TARGET OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES FROM SHORE.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED MISSING THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WAS SUBJECT TO AN ALERT NOTICE.  NO WRECKAGE OR OTHER TRACE OF THE AIRCRAFT OR OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN LOCATED AS OF THE DATE OF THIS REPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS PRESUMED LOST IN AN ACCIDENT UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. PASSENGER AND PILOT ARE ALSO PRESUMED DECEASED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES.

## 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 WPR20FAMS1](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FAMS1), Oct 25, 2019: Piper PA28R (N4958J), Shelter Cove, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: Undetermined due to lack of available evidence.

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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