Piper PA-22-160 accident near Lancaster, California, July 15, 2000
On July 15, 2000 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N8768D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, California (Little Butte Antique airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty winds conditions that resulted in the collision with a power line during final approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2000 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · Little Butte Antique · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N8768D · no longer on the register · serial 22-5955
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on approach to the dirt airstrip where he based his airplane when he encountered wind gusts, which he said buffeted him around and caused a loss of lift. The airplane came into contact with power lines, which were about 30 feet agl. The airplane descended nose first and struck the ground.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 878 hours in all; 454 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,042 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1999; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L94 Tehachapi CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 1CL1 CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 199°F (93°C), dew point 109°F (43°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from WJF, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.