# Accident 20251224019699A: Piper PA-32-260, Rio Linda, CA, December 24, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 24, 2025, 12:30 local time
- Place: Rio Linda, CA
- Airport: Rio Linda
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6660° N, 121.4480° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6660&lon=-121.4480&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2785Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2785Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 198 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251224019699A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 24TH, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:30 PST, THIS AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING CLIMB AFTER TAKE OFF FROM RIO LINDA AIRPORT (L36). THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, THE PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. DURING POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION, SIGNATURES OF LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION WERE DISCOVERED. NO SPECIFIC CAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION HAS BEEN DETERMINED.

## 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 WPR26FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA069), Dec 24, 2025: Piper PA-32-260 (N2785Q), Rio Linda, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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