Accident Overview
On February 28, 2026, at approximately 0948 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, registration N3170Z, was destroyed in an accident near Oroville, California. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight History
According to a friend of the pilot and the owner of the accident airplane, the purpose of the flight was to transport the aircraft from Richvale Airport (07CL), Richvale, California, to Paradise Airport Skypark (CA92), Paradise, California, for its annual inspection. Earlier that morning, the pilot had flown his personal airplane from CA92 to 07CL, secured it, and then departed in the accident airplane for the return trip to CA92, located about 12 nautical miles northwest.
Witness Accounts
A witness who spoke with the pilot via the destination airport's common traffic advisory frequency reported hearing a position report at approximately 0947. The pilot announced he was about 2.5 nautical miles southwest of CA92, entering the downwind leg for runway 35. Another witness reported hearing an engine noise just above their home around 0947, followed by a loud collision and a jolt that shook their residence. After stepping outside and observing the downed airplane, they called 911. First responder dispatch records indicate law enforcement was dispatched to the accident site at about 0948.
Wreckage Examination
The accident site was located approximately 3.06 nautical miles southwest of CA92. All major components remained attached to or collocated with the fuselage. The first identifiable point of impact was a single tree about 12 feet west of the wreckage. The nearly 30-foot-tall tree had missing branches near its top, which were found within the wreckage. The airplane impacted sloping terrain in a near-vertical pitch attitude, with the right wing upslope, the left wing downslope, and the empennage folded over the aft fuselage and inboard section of the right wing. Both wings exhibited chordwise crushing throughout their structure; their respective ailerons and flaps were present at the site. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.