Piper PA-28R-180 N7660J

Summary

On 27 February 1988 at about 22:50 local time, a Piper PA-28R-180 registered N7660J was involved in an accident near Soledad, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 February 1988 at 22:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Soledad, California, United States

Nearest airport

Chalone Vineyard (53CA)

Coordinates

36.3895, -121.3004

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-180

Registration

N7660J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salinas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX88FA117

4 people were seriously injured.

PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROMPTLY INITIATE REMEDIAL ACTION AND HIS FAILURE TO RAISE THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATE TO THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION, INATTENTIVENESS TO VFR PROCEDURES AND HIS NOT MAINTAINING CLEARANCE OVER THE UNDERLYING TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT & 3 PASSENGERS WERE ON A FLT TO A 1750 FT AIRSTRIP AT A VINEYARD. THE AIRSTRIP OWNER SAID HE INFORMED THE PLT THAT THE STRIP WAS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF A HILL, THAT TERRAIN ROSE RAPIDLY TO THE EAST & NORTH OF THE STRIP, & THAT THERE WAS LOWER TERRAIN TO THE SOUTH. DRG AN APCH TO LAND FROM THE WEST, THE PLT ELECTED TO GO AROUND. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT FLYING SLOWLY OVER RWY 7 WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. AFTER FLYING PAST THE END OF THE RWY, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A LEFT TURN TOWARD RISING TERRAIN. IT CLEARED THE TOP OF THE HILL, BUT HIT 2 TREES JUST BEYOND THE HILLTOP & CRASHED. THE LANDING GEAR WAS FOUND IN THE EXTENDED POSITION. AN AUTOMATIC FEATURE OF THE GEAR WOULD KEEP IT EXTENDED BELOW 85 MPH, EXCEPT WHEN THE OVERRIDE DEVICE WAS USED. THIS WAS THE PLT'S 1ST FLT TO THE AIRSTRIP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.