Piper PA-34-200T accident near Independence, California, November 21, 1984
On November 21, 1984 at about 10:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N2245F, was destroyed in an accident near Independence, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1984 · about 10:36 pm local time
- Place
- Independence, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2245F · no longer on the register · serial 34-7970059
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT RECEIVED TWO WX BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE FLT DURING WHICH HE WAS INFORMED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. FLT DEPARTED AT 1308 PST AND A SEARCH WAS INITITATED WHEN ACFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT IT'S DESTINATION. NTAP PRINT OUT INDICATED SEVERAL ALT CHANGES DURING THE FLT. WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE WEST FACE OF A MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT 11,800 FT MSL. DUE TO ELEVATION, TERRAIN AND SNOW, THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS INACCESSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATION. THE 1450 PST WX OBSERVATION AT BISHOP, CA, 32 MILES N OF THE SITE WAS 500 FT SCATTERED, E800 FT OVERCAST,WITH 3 MILES VISIBILITY IN LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS.
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: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 105 hours in all; 90 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-E1BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA at 9:08 pm
- Destination: RHV San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from B1H, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.