Garberville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Garberville, California 95542
Friday, November 21, 2014 10:00 PST

On November 21, 2014, about 1000 Pacific standard time, a Piper Aircraft PA-24-250 Comanche, N7428P, experienced a loss of power and collided with a tree while on approach to the Garberville Airport, Garberville, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to, and being operated by, the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The personal flight originated from Cameron Airpark, Cameron Park, California, with a planned destination of Garberville. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to make the routine 155-nautical-mile (nm) cross-country trip to Garberville, where he would stay for a week's duration and serve as the communities' Emergency Room (ER) doctor and the hospital's Medical Director. The pilot would make this trip about once per month and would telephone hospital staff to pick him up after he landed (usually between 1000 to 1100). There were numerous witnesses that observed the airplane maneuvering toward the airport at a very low altitude just below the cloud layer. Most witnesses estimated the airplane was about 100-200 feet above the tree tops. One witness, located on a hill about 1.5 nm southwest of the airport, stated that the airplane was lower than normal and the engine did not sound if it was producing full power (quitter than normal). Witnesses closer to the accident site noted that the airplane was not emitting any noise. The witness that was the closest to the impact stated that he heard a loud sound of a tree crashing and ran outside his house. He observed the airplane rotate about a tree and cartwheel into the river below. The accident site was located in the South Fork Eel River about 2,260 feet south of the approach end of runway 36 at Garberville. The airplane came to rest in the water partially resting on a gravel/sand embankment. The left wing was separated and entangled in debris on the south side of the river. Following the accident, the water level quickly rose, nearly submerging the entire airframe. The first identified point of contact consisted of a tree that contained a large gouge on the south-facing trunk area located about 60 to 70 feet above ground level (agl), which equated to about 20 feet below the top of the tree. Numerous branches and several pieces of airplane debris were located immediately below the tree, consistent with the left wing colliding with the trees prior to descending into the river. The wreckage is being retained for further examination.

Not Yet Reported