Piper PA 28-181 accident near Groveland, California, January 3, 2004
On January 3, 2004 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA 28-181, registered N9272Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Groveland, California (Pine Mountain Lake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate visual lookout, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Factors to the accident were the parked vehicle, and the pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2004 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Groveland, California · Pine Mountain Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-181 · all PA 28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N9272Q · no longer on the register · serial 2843038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The left wing of the airplane collided with a parked vehicle on the taxiway. The pilot was taxiing down the center of the taxiway, and was distracted by light snow and slush located in a dip. While he was focused on the dip, the collision occurred. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
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: 495 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 445 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 772.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 2003; 73.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KVCB Vacaville CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Q68 Groveland CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
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.