Piper 28-151 N32678

Summary

On 29 January 1982 at about 02:20 local time, a Piper 28-151 registered N32678, operated by James Williams, was involved in an accident near Los Gatos, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

29 January 1982 at 02:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Gatos, California, United States

Coordinates

37.6708, -122.4705

Aircraft

Piper 28-151

Registration

N32678

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James Williams

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monterey → Oakland

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX82FVM09

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT PREPARED TO DEPART ON A SCHEDULED COURIER RUN IN A PIPER PA-32, BUT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH COMPANY PERSONNEL, HE RENTED A PIPER PA-28-151, TRANSFERRED THE CARGO AND DEPARTED MONTEREY, CA ON A FLIGHT TO OAKLAND, CA. AFTER DEPARTING THE MONTEREY TRSA, HE CONTINUED WITH NO FAA FLIGHT PLAN. ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN LOCATED WITHIN THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS, CA. RESIDENTS IN THE AREA REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS FROM 20 TO 50 FT AND THAT THE BRANCHES OF THE TALL TREES COULD NOT BE SEEN WITH THE AID OF A FLASHLIGHT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT ENGINE OR AIRFRAME FAILURES. THE CRASH SITE WAS WITHIN ONE MILE FROM A COURSE LINE BETWEEN THE MONTEREY AND OAKLAND AIRPORTS. THE OPERATOR HAD NOT RECEIVED APPROVAL TO USE THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT IN ITS SCHEDULED AIR TAXI OERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.