Piper PA-28-235 N56626

Summary

On 9 May 2010 at about 17:28 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N56626, operated by Julia Huber, was involved in an accident near Livermore, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 May 2010 at 17:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Livermore, California, United States

Coordinates

37.8117, -121.8019

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N56626

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Julia Huber

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Auburn → San Carlos

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10FA234

2 people died.

The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with obstacles and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed in visual flight rules flight conditions and the non-instrument-rated pilot was returning to her home airport. There was no evidence the pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to departure. An analysis conducted by an NTSB meteorology specialist determined that precipitation passed through the area of the accident site near the time of the accident. A witness that heard the airplane and its subsequent collision with terrain indicated that there was low fog at the time of the accident. Radar data showed that the airplane flew in a straight-line pattern from the northeast to the southwest between its departure and destination and then turned to the southwest when approaching an area of higher terrain. Based on witness information, it is likely that the weather conditions were poor in this area and the pilot was attempting to maneuver the airplane to improved weather conditions at lower elevations on the other side of the higher terrain. Postaccident inspection of the airplane did not disclose evidence of any preimpact anomaly of the engine or airplane systems. The pilot was on a prescription antidepressant medication that would not have been expected to impair her performance. Additionally she also had ingested quinine, which may in some cases contribute to spatial disorientation, although its effect in this accident, if any, could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.