- Date
- September 20, 1991, 23:34 local (Sep 21, 1991, 06:34 UTC)
- Place
- Cupertino, CA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8272YPiper PA-28-181
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910920042219A
- Case key
- 27026
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude, his improper inflight decision to attempt flight below the base of an overcast layer of clouds toward rising mountainous terrain and the flight's inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors which contributed to the accident were the pilot's misjudged weather evaluation and his improper VFR procedures.
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.
Analysis
The 229-hour instrument rated private pilot departed bakersfield for a flight home during bright nightime VFR conditions. Approaching his destination airport, san carlos, the pilot contacted nas moffett and received permission to transit its airspace. The pilot was told to report over the airport. As the pilot approached the airport he likely encountered a forecast overcast layer of clouds having bases at 1,000 feet. The pilot made a 60 to 70 degree change of course away from nas moffett and probably attempted to fly beneath the clouds while over the densely populated and illuminated areas of the city. The pilot entered the base of the clouds, continued flying until entering a mountainous area and lost visual reference to the city. Seconds before impact the pilot requested the frequency for a nearby radar facility. The pilot was familiar with the area having recently learned to fly in the vicinity.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8272Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8190045
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Golden Gate Aviation
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- BFL · Bakersfield, CA
- Destination
- SQL · San Carlos, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 229 total · 179 in this make and model · 119 as pilot in command · 67 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 30° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NUQ, 7 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.
Other investigations on N8272Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.