Piper PA-28-181 N6870F

Summary

On 17 October 1998 at about 20:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N6870F was involved in an accident near Shelter Cove, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 October 1998 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Shelter Cove, California, United States

Nearest airport

Shelter Cove (OQ5)

Coordinates

40.0692, -123.9200

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N6870F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Little River → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99LA011

3 people died.

The pilot's excessive airspeed, failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and the delayed decision to initiate a go-around.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Two airplanes were being flown to the airport. The first airplane landed and the occupants watched the second airplane approach. The pilot of the first airplane commented that the second airplane was coming down too steep and fast to land. Witnesses stated the second airplane landed past the halfway point of the 3,400 foot runway at a high speed. A passenger from the first airplane noticed smoke from the tires after touchdown and thought it was the brakes being applied. Witnesses heard full power applied. The airplane struck a chain link fence on the airport perimeter during liftoff, shearing the nose landing gear off. The airplane then proceeded down a slope, struck a building and equipment, and came to rest on rocks on the opposite shore of a water inlet. After heavy wave action, the airplane subsequently sank in the turbulent water and was not recovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.