Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near California City, California, December 30, 1984
On December 30, 1984 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N2826G, was destroyed in an accident near California City, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- December 30, 1984 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- California City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2826G · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7931214
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CLEAR, FLAT, OPEN, DESERT AREA WHICH WAS USED BY CAMPERS TO RIDE MOTORCYCLES AND OFF-ROAD VEHICLES. ON THE DATE THAT THE PLT LANDED THERE, NUMEROUS CAMPSITES & OFF-ROAD VEHICLES WERE IN THE AREA. NEARLY 2 HRS AFTER THE LANDING, HE INITITATED A TAKEOFF ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING FROM AN OPEN AREA APRX 5000 FT LONG AND 500 FT WIDE. AS THE ACFT WAS ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, A PERSON ON A MOTORCYCLE CAME ACROSS THE OPEN AREA ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING. REPORTEDLY, THE MOTORCYCLIST WAS LOOKING TO THE SOUTH, AWAY FROM THE APPROACHING ACFT. ALSO, THE PLT & PASSENGER DID NOT SEE THE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE RIGHT WING OF THE ACFT CONTACTED THE MOTORCYCLIST WHICH RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE CYCLIST.
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: 647 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 589 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 785 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSI0-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: California City CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 056 Novato CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:58 pm from WJF, 34 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.