# NTSB LAX02LA066: Piper PA-28-180, N3624R, Groveland, CA, January 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 14, 2002, 14:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Groveland, CA - Coordinates: 36.156387, -119.32611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1564&lon=-119.3261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54043 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54043/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54043 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA066 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper preflight planning and improper weather evaluation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - fog - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - low - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - vehicle ## Analysis The airplane collided with a vehicle while attempting to make a precautionary landing on a highway. When the pilot arrived in the destination area he was confronted with a low stratus cloud condition. He diverted to another airport and landed. He contacted an operator at the destination, who told him that there were visual flight operations there with cloud bases about 1,500 to 2,000 feet. He departed the diversionary airport and proceeded towards his destination. Unable to descend through or maneuver around the stratus, he returned to the original diversionary airport, which was now covered by the stratus deck, as were other local airports. Realizing he was now too low on fuel to reach an airport in visual conditions, he contacted Oakland Air Traffic Control Center and requested assistance. The center provided vectors towards airports, but due to the weather conditions, the pilot was unable to find the airports. The consensus was to land the airplane as soon as possible and before fuel exhaustion. The pilot spotted a forestry camp with a windsock near a highway. He was successful in landing on the highway; however, the highway had a curve that prevented him from seeing an on-coming vehicle. He attempted to avoid the vehicle but the wing tip clipped it, causing him to lose control and collide with trees. ## Factual narrative On January 14, 2002, about 1450 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N3624R, collided with a vehicle during a forced landing on Highway 120 near Groveland, California. The forced landing was precipitated by imminent fuel exhaustion. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot received serious injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure point for the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Truckee, California, about 0945, and was destined for Tulare, California. When the pilot arrived in the Tulare area he was confronted with a low stratus cloud condition. He diverted to Pine Mountain Lake, California, and landed. He contacted an operator at the Tulare airport, who told him that there were visual flight operations there, with cloud bases about 1,500 to 2,000 feet. The pilot departed Pine Mountain Lake and proceeded towards Tulare. Unable to descend through or maneuver around the stratus, he returned to Pine Mountain Lake, which was now covered by the stratus deck, as were other local airports. Realizing he was now too low on fuel to reach an airport in visual conditions, he contacted Oakland Air Traffic Control Center and requested assistance. The center provided vectors towards airports, but due to the weather conditions, the pilot was unable to find the airports. The consensus was to land the airplane as soon as possible and before fuel exhaustion. The pilot spotted a forestry camp with a windsock near Highway 120, about 4 miles east of Groveland. He was successful in landing on the highway; however, the highway had a curve that prevented him from seeing an on-coming vehicle. He attempted to avoid the vehicle but the wing tip clipped it, causing him to lose control and collide with trees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3624R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3624R-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N 28-5721, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-5721 - Airframe hours: 6030 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 17, 2001, 40 hours before - Departed: Q68, Pine Mountain, CA - Destination: TLR, Tulare, CA - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 20, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 267 total, 259 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: SCK ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020114000409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020114000409A), Jan 14, 2002: Piper PA28180, Groveland, CA, No damage. (-23) The pilot ran low on fuel after the weather had deteriorated and he was unable to land at his intended destination. After seeking assistance from oakland… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54043. 332 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- 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.