Shelter Cove Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Garberville, California 95440
Sunday, April 28, 1985 14:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT DEPARTED SHELTER COVE, ELEVATION 69 FT, AND HEADED EAST TOWARD A 2000 FT HIGH MOUNTAIN LOCATED 1 3/4 MILES AWAY. THEY CONTINUED TO REPORT THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING AT A SLOW RATE IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AND CONTINUED OVER THE CREST INTO A CANYON WHERE IT CAME TO REST INVERTED. WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER DEPARTING SHELTER COVE MOST PLTS FLY WEST OVER THE OCEAN TO GAIN ALT BEFORE TURNING EAST TOWARD THE MOUNTAINS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/28/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City GARBERVILLE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95440
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHELTER COVE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0Q5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1872
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 28 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29254
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8273L
NTSB Number LAX85FA230
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 288190048
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 25 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 1357
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GENE MARSH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1004 TENZANIA DR
Aircraft Owner City ROSEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95678
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RIVERCITY AIR CHARTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6151 FREEPORT BLVD
Operator City SACRAMENTO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95822
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 0Q5
Departure City SHELTER COVE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1355
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SAC
Destination City SACRAMANTO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --