Piper PA-24-250 accident near Twin Peaks, California, April 24, 1993
On April 24, 1993 at about 2:32 am local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6884P, was destroyed in an accident near Twin Peaks, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO IMC, THE RADAR CONTROLLER'S ISSUANCE OF INCORRECT TERRAIN INFORMATION, THE CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO ISSUE A LOW ALTITUDE SAFETY ALERT, AND THE CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1993 · about 2:32 am local time
- Place
- Twin Peaks, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6884P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
NEARING COMPLETION OF HIS FLIGHT ACROSS THE U.S., AND ABOUT 33 MI FROM HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT DESCENDED AND ENCOUNTERED AN OVERCAST LAYER. UNABLE TO SEE THE UNDERLYING RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND UNCERTAIN OF HIS EXACT POSITION, THE PILOT REQUESTED ATC ASSISTANCE. HE ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE HAD A 'HOLE' AND WAS GOING THROUGH IT. THE AIRPLANE WAS RADAR IDENTIFIED. THE CONTROLLER APPROVED THE DESCENT AND ADVISED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN VFR AT ALL TIMES. IN RESPONSE TO THE PILOT'S INQUIRY 'HOW LOW IS THE TERRAIN UNDER ME RIGHT NOW?', THE CONTROLLER STATED 'THE TERRAIN IS NO FACTOR FOR YOU SIR.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE PILOT STATED HE WAS '...LOSING VFR.' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT 5,550 FT MSL.
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: 450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: POC La Verne CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.