# NTSB LAX85LA094: Piper PA-28RT-201T, N2826G, California City, CA, December 30, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 30, 1984, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: California City, CA
- Coordinates: 35.149658, -117.920997 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1497&lon=-117.9210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24623
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA094
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24623/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA094

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - congested (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CLEAR, FLAT, OPEN, DESERT AREA WHICH WAS USED BY CAMPERS TO RIDE MOTORCYCLES AND OFF-ROAD VEHICLES. ON THE DATE THAT THE PLT LANDED THERE, NUMEROUS CAMPSITES & OFF-ROAD VEHICLES WERE IN THE AREA. NEARLY 2 HRS AFTER THE LANDING, HE INITITATED A TAKEOFF ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING FROM AN OPEN AREA APRX 5000 FT LONG AND 500 FT WIDE. AS THE ACFT WAS ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, A PERSON ON A MOTORCYCLE CAME ACROSS THE OPEN AREA ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING. REPORTEDLY, THE MOTORCYCLIST WAS LOOKING TO THE SOUTH, AWAY FROM THE APPROACHING ACFT. ALSO, THE PLT & PASSENGER DID NOT SEE THE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE RIGHT WING OF THE ACFT CONTACTED THE MOTORCYCLIST WHICH RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE CYCLIST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2826G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7931214
- Airframe hours: 785
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSI0-360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alec. B. Barry
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 1984
- Departed: CALIFORNIA CITY, CA
- Destination: 056, NOVATO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 647 total, 271 in this make and model, 589 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: WJF, 34 nm away

## 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 19841230068899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841230068899A), Dec 30, 1984: Piper PA28RT201T, California City, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft departing from a desert flat collided with a motorcycle and rider.

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.