Piper PA-28-151 N42764

Summary

On 19 March 2022 at about 22:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N42764, operated by Skinner Colin C, was involved in an accident near Alpine, California, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 March 2022 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Alpine, California, United States

Coordinates

32.9292, -116.6653

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N42764

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Skinner Colin C

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Cajon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA144

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain while operating in a canyon, which resulted in an impact with terrain

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, he entered a valley and descended to an altitude of about 300 to 500 ft above the ground. As the pilot began a climb to clear an upcoming ridgeline, he realized that the airplane would not clear the terrain despite making S-turns and adjusting to best rate of climb airspeed. Subsequently, he initiated an emergency landing and the airplane impacted terrain in a level attitude, which substantially damaged the left wing and underside of the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.