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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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October 25, 2019 · Piper PA28R 180 · N4958J

Shelter Cove, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 25, 2019
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Shelter Cove, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA28R 180 (1968)
Tail Number
N4958J
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
WPR20FAMS1

A witness reported that the pilot and passenger departed in dark night conditions with no visible horizon. After takeoff, the airplane made a left turn. Flight track data first identified the airplane about 2.8 nautical miles southeast of the departure airport and over the ocean. The airplane was at an indicated altitude of about 3,325 ft mean sea level (msl) and was transmitting a beacon code of 1200. The airplane maneuvered and made a right 360° turn followed by a left 360° turn, then reversed course, conducted a figure-eight turn, and headed south-southeast bound. It gradually climbed to about 6,000 ft msl before entering a left descending turn and rapidly losing altitude. The track data indicated that the airplane descended from about 5,800 ft to 2,850 ft msl in the last 24 seconds of recorded track data. A search for the airplane found no debris, and the airplane remains missing. The flight track data are consistent with a loss of airplane control.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Contributed to outcome

Full Narrative

On October 24, 2019, about 2123 Pacific daylight time, Piper PA-28R-180, N4958J, was involved in an accident near Shelter Cove, California. Neither the private pilot and passenger nor the airplane have been located. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight. A witness at the Shelter Cove Airport (0Q5), Shelter Cove, California, reported that she observed the airplane depart about 2100 and noted that it was completely dark with no visible horizon. After the airplane lifted off the runway it made a left turn. No record of a preflight weather briefing, nor air traffic servicers were located, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane did not arrive at its destination, Gnoss Field Airport (DVO), Novato, California, and was reported overdue by family. On November 3, 2019, the search for the missing airplane was suspended; there was no wreckage debris located during the search. The Federal Aviation Administration found no evidence of automated dependent-surveillance-broadcast information transmitted from the airplane. Air traffic control flight track data revealed that the accident airplane first appeared in track data about 2.8 nautical miles southeast of Shelter Cove about 2104 and over the ocean. The airplane was at an indicated altitude of about 3,325 ft mean sea level (msl) and was transmitting a beacon code of 1200. The airplane maneuvered and made a right 360o turn followed by a left 360o turn. It then reversed course, conducted a figure-eight turn, and headed south-southeast bound, gradually climbing to about 6,000 ft msl before entering a left descending turn and rapidly losing altitude. The track data indicated that the airplane descended from about 5,800 ft to 2,850 ft msl in the last 24 seconds of recorded track data. The track data was lost about 2123.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:23 PDT
Nearest AirportShelter Cove (15nm SSE)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireUnknown
Aircraft ExplosionUnknown

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA28R 180
Tail NumberN4958J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class · Fatal
Crew 2Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point16 C
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time03:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data