- Date
- June 7, 1990, 20:10 local (Jun 8, 1990, 03:10 UTC)
- Place
- Susanville, CA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N47472Piper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 21, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900607019359A
- Case key
- 41112
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
An improper inflight decision on the part of the pilot when he misjudged the aircraft's climb in close proximity to rising terrain.
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 pilot of the Piper PA-28-161 departed Susanville, CA on the return leg of a flight that originated in klamath falls, OR. The aircraft crashed and burned approximately 8 miles northwest of Susanville, approximately on a direct course towards klamath falls, about 100-200 feet below Susanville peak. The pilot and his passenger perished. Weather was excellent VFR at the time of the accident, and the pilot had stated that he had four hours fuel on board at the time of his takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N47472
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-78-16077
- Airframe hours
- 1,950
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary J. Williams
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 12, 1990 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- 1Q2 · Susanville, CA
- Destination
- LMT · Klamath Falls, OR
- Airport
- 1Q2 · Susanville
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
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 225 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- 1Q2, 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.