SANTA ROSA, CA, USA
N5698V
PIPER PA-28-181
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT & A PASSENGER TOOK OFF FROM THE ARPT AT DAWN BEFORE THE CONTROL TOWER WAS IN OPERATION. THE TAKEOFF WAS AT 0549 PDT IN IMC CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ACFT CRASHED. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ACFT TAKEOFF 'ON 19', THEN HEARD THE ENG LIKE IT WAS IN A DIVE. ANOTHER WITNESS HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER HIS HOUSE, THEN TURN AROUND & FLY BACK OVER HIS HOUSE & CRASH. HE STATED THE WX WAS FOGGY, BUT HE COULD SEE RUNWAY LIGHTS ABOUT 400 TO 500 YARDS AWAY. AT 0620 PDT, TOWER PERSONNEL OBSERVED THE WX WAS: 200 FT INDEFINITE CEILING, VISIBILITY 1/2 MI WITH FOG, TEMP 57, DEW POINT 55, WIND CALM. DURING IMPACT, THE ACFT WAS DEMOLISHED & THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN OVER A PATH 345 FT LONG. A PIECE OF RED LENS WAS FOUND NEAR THE 1ST IMPACT POINT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A PREFLT WX BRIEFING OR COMMUNICATION WITH ANY RADIO FACILITY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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