2019 Piper PA-28-151 accident near Antioch, California (N7943C)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On June 9, 2019, at approximately 1732 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151 airplane, registration N7943C, was destroyed in an accident near Antioch, California. The aircraft was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 22-year-old pilot, who had received his private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating on May 31, 2019, was fatally injured. According to employees of Sterling Flight Training Center, the pilot had recently obtained his certificate and rented the aircraft that day to continue building flight experience in preparation for instrument training. Radar data indicated the aircraft departed Buchanan Field Airport (CCR) in Concord, California, while climbing continuously. The first radar target was identified at 17:17:58, about 1.5 miles northeast of CCR. The aircraft turned east approximately 5 miles from the airport and flew another 7 miles into a practice area used during its flight training. Approaching the northwest end of Winter Island, it turned southeast and reached a maximum altitude of about 5,300 feet mean sea level (msl) at 17:26:27. The aircraft maintained a southeast heading until nearing the south end of Winter Island, where it entered a descent and turned northeast. It continued descending to about 4,500 feet msl with a groundspeed increasing to 145 knots. The aircraft then completed a right, 360-degree descending turn to an altitude of 2,100 feet msl and a groundspeed of 163 knots. The final radar target, recorded at 17:27:25, showed the aircraft on a westerly heading at 2,100 feet msl, approximately 0.16 mile northeast of the estimated accident site. ## Witness Accounts and Impact A witness near the accident site reported that the aircraft's attention was drawn by the “strained” and “variable” sound of its engine. The witness and his wife observed the aircraft maneuvering above their location, “performing tricks” near the surface of the water. They stated the aircraft impacted the water in a nose-low attitude at a high speed. Other pilots who had rented the aircraft earlier that day reported no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Wreckage and Recovery The aircraft impacted the San Joaquin River in the Broad Slough area. Search and rescue personnel located the wreckage along the river bottom, contained within an area of about 120 feet by 180 feet at a depth of about 20 feet. Portions of the wreckage were recovered from the water on June 13, 2019. The recovered items included the engine, empennage, aft fuselage, left wing, left aileron and flap, fragments of the right wing, both main landing gear, the firewall, and portions of the interior, including the rear seat bench. Examination of the recovered wreckage revealed no anomalies which would have precluded normal operation.