# NTSB LAX94LA336: Piper PA24-180, N5069P, Bridgeport, CA, July 20, 1962

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Closed
- Date: July 19, 1962, 23:45 local (Jul 20, 1962, 06:45 UTC)
- Place: Bridgeport, CA
- Coordinates: 38.269706, -119.329566 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2697&lon=-119.3296&mi=10
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA336
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA336

## Probable cause

IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN FOR UNKNOWN REASON(S).

## Analysis

ON JULY 19, 1962, A COMMERCIAL, NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE CROSSING HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ON A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN AT ABOUT 9,200 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON A 30 DEGREE SLOPE WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED MISSING AND WENT UNDISCOVERED UNTIL AUGUST 8, 1994. THE AIRPLANE WITH HUMAN REMAINS WAS DISCOVERED IN A REMOTE AREA OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK BY TRAIL REPAIR PERSONNEL. THE FAA AND SAFETY BOARD DID NOT HAVE ANY RECORDS OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE REGISTRATION NUMBER OF THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN REASSIGNED TO ANOTHER AIRCRAFT IN 1972.  U.S. PARK AND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL CONDUCTED A CORONER'S INVESTIGATION.

## NTSB brief

On July 19, 1962, about 2345 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA24-180, N5069P, collided with mountainous terrain about 22 miles southwest of Bridgeport, California.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Sacramento, California, when the accident occurred.  The airplane, operated by Capitol Skypark Inc., Sacramento, California, was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire.  The certificated commercial pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries.  A VFR flight plan was not filed.  The flight originated from Fresno, California, about 2300 hours.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations inspector, Fresno Flight Standards District Office, reported that a U.S. Park Service trail crew from the Yosemite National Park discovered the airplane on August 8, 1994, in a remote section of the park about 9,200 feet mean sea level.  The location is in the Stubblefield Canyon drainage, north of the Pacific Crest hiking trail, below the Macomb Ridge.  The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board do not have any records of the accident flight.  The registration number of the airplane was retired and reassigned by the FAA to another aircraft in 1972.

A U.S. Park Service investigator reported that, during a coroner's investigation conducted jointly by the park service and Tuolumne County investigators, family members of the pilot and passengers provided details about the flight.  See attached park service report.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating.  The pilot also held an aircraft mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings.  No record of the pilot's last medical certificate was retained by the FAA.  No personal flight records were located for the pilot.  No aircraft maintenance records for the airplane were located.

The recovered remains of the occupants were turned over to the Tuolumne County Coroner's Office, 28 N. Lower Sunset Dr., Sonora, California, by park ranger personnel.

The accident was located at latitude 38 degrees, 03.959 minutes north, and longitude 119 degrees, 35.674 minutes west.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5069P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5069P-1970-06-16), registration cancelled 1970-06-16, S/N 2475 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-75
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Capital Skypark Inc.
- Registered owner: Robert Watts, Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FAT, FRESNO, CA
- Destination: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark

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.