Piper PA-32-260 N3643W
27 July 1986 · Yosemite Nation, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 27 July 1986 at about 00:45 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3643W, operated by Paradise Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Yosemite Nation, California, United States. 6 people were on board and 3 died, 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 00:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Yosemite Nation, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lee Vining (Q24)
- Coordinates
- 37.6308, -119.6810
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260
- Registration
- N3643W
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Paradise Flying Service
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- San Andreas → Death Valley
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX86FA303
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
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
AFTER FLYING LOW OVER YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK THE PIPER PA-32-260, OPERATING AS AN ON-DEMAND PASSENGER FLIGHT, CLIMBED EASTWARD INTO RISING TERRAIN. THE FLIGHT PATH SELECTED BY THE PILOT WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE NORTH AND 1000 FEET HIGHER THAN TIOGA PASS (ELEVATION 9941) FEET). THE DENSITY ALTITUDE CALCUALTED FOR THE ACCIDENT WAS 12,500 AND THE AIRCRAFT'S PUBLISHED SERVICE CEILING IS 12,800 FEET AT MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. THE EMPENNAGE STRUCK A BOULDER AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED UP A FIVE DEGREE UPSLOPING RIDGE THEN NOSED INTO THE GROUND. A POST CRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE CABIN AND ENGINE NACELLES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 1986 | Piper PA-32-300 | Atmautluak, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Oct 1986 | Piper PA-32-260 | Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Feb 1986 | Piper PA-32-260 | Lynchburg, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 25 Aug 1986 | Piper PA-32-300 | Riverside, California, United States | Kenneth W. Griffith | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1986 | Piper PA-32-300 | Tyonek, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1986 | Piper PA-32-300 | Melbourne, Florida, United States | C. Foster Wright | No injuries | - |
All 1,695 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 1986 | Cessna 150 | Hesperia, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Nov 1986 | Luscombe 8A | Half Moon Bay, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jun 1986 | Schleicher ASW-19 | Warner Springs, California, United States | Mark A. Miller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Nov 1986 | Learjet 24 | Lake Tahoe, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1986 | Piper PA-18-150 | Ukiah, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Nov 1986 | Beechcraft K35 | San Diego, California, United States | Dean Holt | Minor injuries | - |