Piper PA-32-260 accident near Rio Linda, California, December 24, 2025
On December 24, 2025 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA-32-260, registered N2785Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Rio Linda, California (Rio Linda airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2025 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Linda, California · Rio Linda · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260, built 1966 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N2785Q · registry record · serial 32-688
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 24, 2025, at approximately 1230 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32-260, N2785Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rio Linda, California. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the pilot-rated passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to friends of the pilot, the airplane had not flown since August, and the purpose of the flight was for the pilot, who was the owner, to maintain proficiency. No ADS-B data was available for the flight; however, it appeared to have departed from runway 17 at its home base, Rio Linda Airport (L36), at about 1228. Witnesses located about one-half mile south of the airport reported seeing the airplane flying at low altitude in a southbound direction away from the airport. One witness stated that they could not hear the sound of an engine and assumed the airplane was attempting to land in a field. The airplane came to rest in a grass field about 2,200 ft south-southwest of the departure end of runway 17. The first identified point of impact was a 25-ft-long ground disruption that contained fragments of paint chips and composite material. The debris field continued on a heading of about 240°, leading to the right wing, which had detached at the wing root along with the nose gear assembly and right flap. The main fuselage was located about 90 ft farther downrange and had come to rest generally intact and upright. The left wing was separated at the root, essentially undamaged, and had come to rest inverted just beyond the main cabin. Both wingtip fuel tanks, along with the right wing tank, had been breached and were empty. The left tank was intact and was more than half full when viewed through the filler neck. The cabin sustained minimal damage and was essentially intact. The airplane was equipped with lap belts for the front occupants but did not appear to have shoulder harnesses installed. The engine remained attached to the firewall by its mount and was bent downward and slightly to the right. Both propeller blades remained attached to the hub and were bent about 45° aft at midspan, with minimal evidence of chordwise striations or leading-edge damage. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 2,625 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KMCC, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMCC 242035Z AUTO 17007KT 10SM CLR 14/11 A2967 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 WPR26FA069.