Piper PA-28-161 accident near Livermore, California, November 26, 1990
On November 26, 1990, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2601X, was destroyed in an accident near Livermore, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADVERTENT FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HER FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1990
- Place
- Livermore, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2601X · no longer on the register · serial 28-8516085
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TOOK OFF WITH A SVFR CLEARANCE, INTENDING TO FLY HOME. WEATHER AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT (ELEV 397 FT) WAS: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, ESTIMATED 900 FT BROKEN, 3000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 4 MILES WITH RAIN. DURING DEPARTURE, THE VISIBILITY DECREASED TO ONE MILE, AND THE PILOT BECAME UNCERTAIN OF HER POSITION IN DETERIORATING WEATHER. SHE ENCOUNTERED RISING TERRAIN AND INITIATED A CLIMB. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ON MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN APROXIMATELY 8 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 2800 FT.
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: 122 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVK Livermore CA
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.