Palo Alto Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palo Alto, California 94302
Thursday, December 2, 1982 19:14 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 6 TO 10 FT AGL, SOMETHING HIT THE LEFT PROPELLER AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE. HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING, BUT ASSUMED THE PLANE HAD STRUCK A LARGE BIRD. DARKNESS AND THE BAGGAGE DOOR WERE OBSTRUCTING THE PILOT'S VIEW. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND TOUCHED DOWN WITH ABOUT 300 FT OF THE RUNWAY REMAINING. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY, WENT OVER A LOW MOUND AND DOWN A STEEP INCLINE INTO A MUDFLAT, THEN CAME TO REST IN ABOUT 12 TO 18 INCHES OF WATER. THE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR WAS FOUND OPEN WITH THE LATCH LOCKED AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE LOCKED POSITION. NO EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKE WAS FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/2/1982
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1914
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City PALO ALTO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94302
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport PALO ALTO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PAO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1845
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PAO
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2918
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8292Y
NTSB Number LAX83LA049
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-200T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-200T
Aircraft Serial Number 34-8170032
Certified Max Gross Weight 4570
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 355
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CIMARRON AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 61288 GOSNEY ROAD
Aircraft Owner City BEND
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CIMARRON AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 61288 GOSNEY ROAD
Operator City BEND
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97701
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PAO
Departure City PALO ALTO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1914
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SLE
Destination City SALEM
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 65
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --