Piper PA-38 N2493G

Summary

On 1 October 2000 at about 05:35 local time, a Piper PA-38 registered N2493G, operated by Mazzei Flying Service, was involved in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 October 2000 at 05:35

Classification

Accident

Location

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Coordinates

35.2496, -120.6193

Aircraft

Piper PA-38

Registration

N2493G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Mazzei Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Fresno

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX00FA354

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while turning to reverse course following inadvertent nighttime flight into instrument meteorological conditions. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in nighttime operations.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The recently certificated, non-instrument rated, private pilot took off in conditions of nighttime darkness from a coastal valley airport and climbed over a sparsely lighted area toward rising terrain. The airplane entered low stratus clouds that were not visible to the pilot until the airplane flew into them. He attempted to reverse course back toward the airport; however, during the turn the right wingtip contacted terrain in a plowed field and the airplane cartwheeled to the ground. The accident site was 4 miles from the departure airport and 120 feet higher elevation. The pilot obtained his certificate about 3 weeks prior and had 55 total flying hours, which included 5 hours at night. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.