Piper PA-28-161 accident near Half Moon Bay, California, May 23, 1998
On May 23, 1998 at about 4:07 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2480Q, was destroyed in an accident near Half Moon Bay, California (Half Moon Bay airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-instrument rated pilot's loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation in dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1998 · about 4:07 am local time
- Place
- Half Moon Bay, California · Half Moon Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2480Q · registry record · serial 28-8516067
- 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 rented the aircraft and was to return the it that evening. A pilot-witness recognized the accident aircraft parked on the ramp and reported that the aircraft was no longer there at 2130 when he departed. The pilot-witness stated that the weather conditions were 1,200 feet overcast, with tops at 2,500 feet, and a very dark night. Radar data disclosed a 1200 code secondary beacon at a mode C reported altitude of 300 feet just off the north end of the runway at 2103:03. The next 12 beacon returns depicted a climbing left downwind departure that achieved an altitude of 1,700 feet. The final return displayed a 900-foot altitude at 2106:03. Several ground witnesses located on the shore south of the airport reported they heard an approaching plane and saw it flying low northbound along the beach just after 2100. They could not see the color of the aircraft, but could see the lights on its wings. The witnesses stated that the engine made a sputtering sound. The airplane continued north and began to climb. They heard a high pitched whining sound and the plane rolled left and out of their sight. The witnesses then reported that they heard a loud crash. The next day, a fisherman pulled aboard a seat that was determined to be from a Piper PA-28. Fragmented human remains were found by search units washed up on shore, with articles of clothing identified by family members as belonging to the pilot. A wallet containing identification from one of the passengers was also later found on the beach.
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: 155 hours in all; 31 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,379 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 13, 1998; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Inbound Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: HAF Half Moon Bay CA
- Destination: RHV San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 260° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; scat
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX98LA172.