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NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-34 · Near Sonoma, CA · February 14, 1982

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report

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Date
February 13, 1982, 16:45 local (Feb 14, 1982, 00:45 UTC)
Place
Near Sonoma, CA
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N8455YPiper PA-34
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report February 13, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19820213004259A
Case key
71931

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with terrain/waterCruise
Light condition - duskFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Terrain condition - risingFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterCruise - normal
Terrain condition - risingFactor

Analysis

The pilot proceeded VFR toward a private strip after an instrument approach to napa county airport. The visibility was not good and the aircraft collided with a hillside while en route. About 5 mi north, the weather at the napa county airport was 500 ft overcast, 1.5 mi visibility with fog and rain, wind 100 deg at 6 KTS.

Aircraft

Registration
N8455Y
Reported as
Piper PA-34
Category
Airplane
Serial number
82-33002
Airframe hours
106
Engine
Continental TSIO-360-KB, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Stanley Goldsmith
Registered owner
Stanley Goldsmith
Departed
Grass Valley, CA
Destination
San Rafael, CA
N8455YRegistration cancelled May 30, 2013 · Piper PA-34-220TS/N 34-8233002 · Built 1981Airframe modelPiper PA-34-220TEngine modelContinental TSIO-360 seriesReciprocating

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
53
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Flight hours
4,000 total · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
Wind
100° at 6 knots
Temperature
122 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19820213004259APiper PA34220T · Sonma, CAPilot attempted VFR flight under low ceiling after instrument approach. Aircraft crashed into rising terrain.Feb 13, 1982 · N8455Y · Destroyed