On October 4, 1985, a Piper PA-23-250 (registration N6726Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Barbara, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
On October 3, 1985, a Piper PA-23-250 engaged in air sampling crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara, California. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were fatally injured. The flight was on a predetermined route using LORAN NAVAIDs, and the operator confirmed correct waypoint entry.
Accident Overview
On October 3, 1985, a Piper PA-23-250 aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean while conducting an air sampling flight near Santa Barbara, California. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident. Both pilots on board were fatally injured.
Flight Details
The flight was planned along a predetermined route using LORAN navigation aids. The aircraft operator verified that the waypoints were correct and had been entered properly. During the flight, the aircraft was in radio communication with Santa Barbara Approach Control and reported no difficulties.
Operator Review
A subsequent review of the flight information by the operator indicated that the aircraft was on course as scheduled at the time of the accident.