Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oakland, California
Piper Aircraft Company; Vero Beach, Florida
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: WPR16FA042
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, December 22, 2015 in Castro Valley, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/29/2017
Aircraft: PIPER PA32R, registration: N323PA
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The instrument-rated private pilot was operating the airplane on an instrument flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). As the airplane neared the destination airport, the controller cleared the pilot for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach, instructed him to descend to 3,400 ft mean sea level (msl), and provided him with a heading to intercept the localizer course. The pilot acknowledged the clearance and began descending the airplane, but did not initiate the turn. About 30 seconds later, the controller again instructed the pilot to turn to intercept the localizer course. The pilot complied, turned west, and began tracking toward the airport south of the localizer course. The controller asked the pilot whether the airplane was established on the localizer, to which the pilot replied, "I'm re-establishing." Shortly thereafter, the controller asked the pilot if he was receiving the glideslope indication for the approach. The pilot confirmed that he was receiving the glideslope, but stated that he was "off glideslope" and "too high." However, at this time, the airplane was 800 ft below the minimum altitude for that segment of the approach (3,400 ft msl). The controller issued a low altitude alert, cancelled the approach clearance, and instructed the pilot to turn north and climb. The pilot acknowledged; however, the airplane turned south and did not climb. The controller again issued the pilot instructions to turn and climb, and the airplane began to turn north and climb before subsequently entering a descent. Shortly thereafter, the pilot stated, "I'm losing it." No further transmissions were received from the pilot, and radar contact was lost in the vicinity of the accident site.
The airplane impacted heavily-wooded terrain about 12 nautical miles southeast of the destination airport, at an elevation about 1,400 ft.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed heavy fragmentation consistent with a high-energy impact as well as evidence of a postimpact fire. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, and the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or anomalies. Although the extensive damage precluded examination of the primary vacuum pump and functional testing of the autopilot system, it is unlikely these components malfunctioned because before beginning the approach, the pilot experienced no difficulty complying with air traffic control-assigned altitudes and headings, and, throughout the flight, he gave no indication that he was experiencing problems with the flight controls, flight instruments, or autopilot. Based on weather data and the pilot's radio communication that he was "in the weather," the airplane was operating in IMC throughout the approach. When issued instructions to execute a missed approach, the pilot experienced a high workload that involved changes to the airplane's heading, altitude, and likely, configuration; this situation was conducive to the development of spatial disorientation. The pilot likely recognized the onset of spatial disorientation as evidenced by his statement to the controller, "I'm losing it;" however, the pilot was unable to make the appropriate corrective inputs before losing control of the airplane.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation while maneuvering during an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On December 22, 2015, about 1127 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N323PA, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Castro Valley, California, while conducting an instrument approach to Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK), Oakland, California. The private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were present in the area, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Lincoln Municipal Airport (LHM), Lincoln, California, about 1050. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot, and the personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Air traffic control radar and voice communication information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the pilot contacted the Northern California Terminal Radar Approach Control facility shortly after takeoff from LHM and requested an IFR clearance to OAK. The pilot was subsequently issued a discrete transponder code and an IFR clearance. About 1122, as the airplane neared the destination, it was established on a heading of 160° at an altitude about 4,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The controller cleared the pilot for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 28R, instructing him to turn right to a heading of 260° to intercept the localizer course and to descend and maintain an altitude of 3,400 ft msl until established on the approach. The controller told the pilot that the airplane was 1 mile north of the GROVE fix along the approach. According to radar data, at that point, the airplane was 1 mile north of NAGVY, a fix along the approach that was about 3 miles outside of GROVE (see figure 1).
Figure 1 - Approach Overview
The pilot acknowledged the clearance and began descending but did not initiate the right turn. About 30 seconds later, the controller contacted the pilot and provided a heading of 300° to cross and intercept the localizer. The pilot acknowledged, and the airplane began turning right (about 1123; see figure 2). During the turn, the airplane crossed the localizer course, then tracked toward the airport on the south side of the localizer course. About 1124, the controller asked the pilot if he had obtained visual contact with the airport, and the pilot replied, "I'm still in the weather." About 1125, the controller asked the pilot if the airplane was established on the localizer, to which the pilot replied, "I'm re-establishing." When the controller subsequently asked the pilot if he was receiving the glideslope indication, the pilot stated that he was receiving the glideslope but was "off glideslope" and "too high." At this time, the airplane's altitude was 2,600 ft msl; the minimum altitude for that segment of the approach was 3,400 ft msl.
The controller issued a low altitude alert, cancelled the approach clearance, and instructed the pilot to turn right to a heading of 300° and to climb and maintain an altitude of 4,000 ft msl. The pilot acknowledged; however, the airplane began a left turn to the south and did not climb. The controller subsequently instructed the pilot to turn north to a heading of 360° and asked the pilot to verify that the airplane was climbing and turning north. The pilot replied, "360 and climbing." The airplane made a right turn to the north and climbed to 3,700 ft before it began descending. Shortly after, during a partially-blocked transmission, the pilot stated, "I'm losing it." No further transmissions were received from the airplane, and radar contact was subsequently lost.
Figure 2 - Airplane's Flight Path (Localizer Course Depicted in Red)
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. He held an FAA third-class medical certificate, which was issued in August 2015 with a limitation requiring the use of corrective lenses. Review of the pilot's logbook indicated that he had accumulated about 1,262 total hours of flight experience, of which about 960 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The pilot had accumulated about 43 total hours of actual instrument flight experience, 3.5 hours of which were in the 6 months before the accident, and about 82 hours of simulated instrument experience. His most recent flight review and instrument proficiency check were conducted on November 21, 2015.
AIRPLANE INFORMATION
The airplane was manufactured in 2001 and registered to the pilot in July 2007. It was equipped with a Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A, 300-horsepower, turbocharged, reciprocating engine, which drove a Hartzell HK732B constant-speed propeller. Review of maintenance logs indicated that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on November 17, 2015, at a total airframe and engine time of 1,479.8 hours. The airplane was equipped with Garmin 430 and 530 panel-mounted GPS units, an electrically-driven standby attitude indicator, and a two-axis autopilot system, which interfaced with the airplane's horizontal situation indicator (HSI).
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
The 1126 automated weather observation at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), Livermore, California, located about 8 miles east of the accident site, included wind from 260° at 15 knots, 10 miles visibility, broken cloud layers at 1,300 and 3,200 ft, temperature 15°C, dew point 12°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.82 inches of mercury.
The 1154 automated weather observation at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD), Hayward, California, located about 7 miles west of the accident site, included wind from 270° at 11 knots, 9 miles visibility, broken ceiling at 3,900 ft, overcast ceiling at 5,000 ft, temperature 14°C, dew point 12°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.85 inches of mercury.
A weather computer model balloon sounding for the accident site about 1100 showed clouds likely from the surface through 6,000 ft msl, with drizzle and light rain. Weather satellite information about the time of the accident showed clouds over the area of the accident site moving northwest to southeast. Weather radar animation for the area of the accident site at the time of the accident showed light precipitation.
The area forecast, issued at 0345 and valid through the time of the accident, included overcast ceilings at 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) and visibilities of 3 to 5 miles in light rain and mist.
AIRMET advisories issued between 0645 and 0730, valid for the time of the accident, warned of moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft msl, IMC due to precipitation and mist, and mountain obscuration. Instrument conditions were forecast to improve between 1000 and 1300; however, the mountain obscuration conditions were forecast to continue beyond 1300.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The accident site was located on a heavily-wooded hillside about 12 nautical miles southeast of OAK at an elevation about 1,400 ft. The initial impact point was identified by several fallen trees and large branches. From the initial impact point, the wreckage path extended downhill about 300 ft on a magnetic heading about 330°. The cockpit and cabin area was largely consumed by a post-crash fire.
The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for examination due to its heavy fragmentation and the difficult terrain at the accident site. All major components of the airplane were accounted for during reconstruction of the wreckage, and there was no evidence of an inflight breakup.
The cabin and cockpit area, including all flight instruments and the autopilot, were destroyed by impact and fire. The left and right aileron control cables remained attached to the control chain. Both stabilator cables remained attached to the lower stabilator t-bar assembly. The left and right rudder control cables remained attached to the rudder control arm assemblies.
The left and right wings were separated from the fuselage at their respective roots and displayed varying degrees of impact and fire damage. Neither left nor right wing aileron bellcrank stops exhibited indications of flutter, and all control cable separations exhibited signatures of overstress. The fuel selector was in the left tank position, and the filter was free of contaminants. The fuel system was breached in multiple locations. The landing gear down-locks displayed no damage, consistent with the landing gear having been in a retracted position at the time of impact. Measurement of the wing flap actuator threads corresponded to a flaps-retracted position.
The empennage displayed significant impact damage and was separated into several sections. The right side horizontal stabilizer exhibited thermal damage. Both stabilator cables remained attached to the stabilator arm assembly, and the left and right rudder cables remained attached to the rudder bellcrank assembly.
The propeller was separated from the engine at the crankshaft flange. All three propeller blades remained attached at the hub and exhibited varying degrees of torsional twisting and s-bending. The propeller governor remained attached at its mounting pad with the pitch control rod securely attached to the control wheel. The governor was removed for examination; the drive was intact and free to rotate, and the gasket screen was free of contamination.
The engine was separated from its mounts and displayed significant impact damage to the Nos. 1, 3, and 5 cylinders. The No. 1 cylinder rocker assemblies were absent. The No. 3 cylinder head was impact separated, leaving only the barrel in place. The No. 5 cylinder was completely separated from the engine; the piston remained in place. Due to impact damage, the crankshaft could not be rotated by hand. The spark plugs were removed (except for those from the No. 3 cylinder, which were not located), and all displayed normal wear. The Nos. 2, 4, and 6 cylinder rocker covers were removed, and the rocker boxes displayed no anomalies. The Nos. 2, 4, and 6 cylinder combustion chambers were examined with a borescope and exhibited no anomalies.
Holes were drilled through the engine case to facilitate internal examination of the connecting rods, crankshaft, and camshaft, which revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies.
All accessories were separated from the engine. The accessory case was removed, and the accessory gears, including the crankshaft gear, bolt, and dowel, were intact and undamaged. The left and right magnetos were destroyed. The primary vacuum pump was separated from the engine, and its drive and rotor/vanes were not located. The standby vacuum pump was disassembled for examination and its internal components displayed damage consistent with impact.
The turbocharger system components were displaced from their mountings and exhibited impact damage. There was no evidence of foreign object ingestion. The wastegate remained intact and undamaged. The turbocharger housing exhibited signatures of rotation at the time of impact.
The fuel injection servo was impact separated. The throttle plate and shaft with attached control arm were separated from the servo. The throttle and mixture controls were found securely attached. The fuel inlet screen was free of contamination. The servo was disassembled and no anomalies were noted. The fuel flow divider remained secured to its mounting bracket, but all fuel lines were damaged or separated on impact. The flow divider was disassembled and no anomalies were noted.
The fuel pump was separated from the engine, though a portion of its mounting flange remained attached to the engine. The fuel pump was disassembled, and the rotor and vane assembly remained intact and free to rotate. The diaphragm was torn, and it was retained for further examination.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office Coroner's Bureau, Oakland, California, performed an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma. The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing; tests were negative for ethanol and all tested-for drugs. Carbon monoxide testing could not be performed with the samples available.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Fuel Pump Diaphragm
The fuel pump diaphragm was examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory. Scanning electron microscope imagery of the tear in the diaphragm revealed signatures consistent with tensile overstress as a result of impact forces.
Spatial Disorientation
The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute's publication, "Introduction to Aviation Physiology," defines spatial disorientation as a loss of proper bearings or a state of mental confusion as to position, location, or movement relative to the position of the earth. Factors contributing to spatial disorientation include changes in acceleration, flight in IMC, frequent transfer between visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and IMC, and unperceived changes in aircraft attitude. The publication states that pilots flying in IMC are more susceptible than usual to the stresses of flight, such as fatigue and anxiety, and any event that produces an emotional upset is likely to disrupt the pilot's mental processes, making them more vulnerable to illusions and false sensations.
The FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A) describes some hazards associated with flying when the ground or horizon are obscured. The handbook states, in part: "The vestibular sense (motion sensing by the inner ear) in particular tends to confuse the pilot. Because of inertia, the sensory areas of the inner ear cannot detect slight changes in the attitude of the airplane, nor can they accurately sense attitude changes that occur at a uniform rate over a period of time. On the other hand, false sensations are often generated; leading the pilot to believe the attitude of the airplane has changed when in fact, it has not. These false sensations result in the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation."
NTSB Identification: WPR16FA042
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, December 22, 2015 in Castro Valley, CA
Aircraft: PIPER PA32R, registration: N323PA
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On December 22, 2015, about 1127 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA32R-301T, N323PA, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Castro Valley, California, while conducting an instrument approach to Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK), Oakland, California. The private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions were present in the area, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Lincoln Municipal Airport (LHM), Lincoln, California, about 1050. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot as a personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Preliminary air traffic control (ATC) radar and radio communication data from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that about 1122, ATC cleared the airplane for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 28R at OAK. The pilot was instructed to turn right to a heading of 260 degrees to intercept the localizer, and to descend and maintain an altitude of 3,400 feet until established on the approach. The pilot acknowledged the clearance and began descending, but did not initiate the right turn. ATC subsequently contacted the pilot and again provided a heading to intercept the localizer. The pilot acknowledged and the airplane turned, but continued to track toward the airport south of the localizer course. About 1125, ATC asked the pilot if the airplane was established on the localizer, to which the pilot replied, "I'm re-establishing." When the controller asked the pilot if he was receiving the glideslope indication, the pilot stated that he was "off glideslope" and "too high." At this time, the airplane's altitude was 2,600 feet; the minimum altitude for that segment of the approach was 3,400 feet.
The controller issued a low altitude alert, cancelled the approach clearance, and instructed the pilot to turn right to a heading of 300 degrees and to climb and maintain an altitude of 4,000 feet. The pilot acknowledged, however, the airplane began a left turn to the south and did not climb. ATC subsequently instructed the pilot to turn north to a heading of 360 degrees, and asked the pilot to verify that the airplane was climbing and turning north. The pilot replied "360 and climbing." The airplane made a right turn to the north and climbed to 3,600 feet before it began descending. Shortly after, during a partially-blocked transmission, the pilot indicated that he was "losing it." No further transmissions were received from the accident airplane, and radar contact was lost about 1 minute later.
The accident site was located on a heavily-wooded hillside about 12 nautical miles southeast of OAK, at an elevation of about 1,400 feet. The initial impact point was identified by several fallen trees and large branches. From the initial impact point, the wreckage path extended downhill about 300 feet on a magnetic heading of about 330 degrees. The cockpit and cabin area was largely consumed by a post-crash fire. Terrain at the accident site, as well as the heavy fragmentation of the wreckage, precluded thorough examination; the wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for examination at a later date.
The 1126 automated weather observation at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), Livermore, California, located about 8 miles east of the accident site, included wind from 260 degrees at 15 knots, 10 miles visibility, broken cloud layers at 1,300 and 3,200 feet, temperature 15 degrees C, dew point 12 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.82 inches of mercury.
FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Oakland FSDO-27
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
John Sacco
~
Alameda County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ray Kelly cited the plane's location in a rugged and deep canyon off Palomares Road, as well as recent rainy weather conditions.
The Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB National Transportation Safety Board "are aware of the situation," Kelly said Tuesday evening. "They have been notified due to terrain and nightfall that we are not going to recover wreckage until morning. As you know, rains and winds are high today, which creates safety concerns for us. The fact that we found the site is a miracle given the weather."
Kelly said sheriff's deputies will remain to secure the scene overnight and that safety crews will begin efforts early Wednesday with Alameda County Fire Department crews and NTSB personnel.
Air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact with the pilot of a Piper PA-32 single-engine plane around 11:30 a.m. as the plane was en route from Lincoln in Placer County to Oakland, according to Federal Aviation Administration public affairs spokesman Ian Gregor.
The aircraft was about 12 miles east of Oakland International Airport when contact was lost, Gregor said.
The Alameda County Fire Department received reports of a downed aircraft near Sunol at 12:02 p.m., fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said.
Knowles said a single body was found at the crash site Tuesday afternoon.
Two Alameda County Fire Department firefighters suffered injuries during the search. The firefighters were evaluated at the hospital and returned to duty Tuesday night.
Alameda County Fire Department, Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, CalFire, East Bay Regional Park District police and fire and Paramedics Plus crews joined efforts to find the plane off Palomares Road, Knowles said.
East Bay Regional Park District spokeswoman Carolyn Jones said the district's helicopter, Eagle, was part of Tuesday's search.
"Around 12:30 p.m., the FAA called us and the Alameda County Sheriff asking for assistance in finding the plane," Jones said. "They know all those trails, the staff that works up there knows every square inch of that place. The helicopter crews comb the land regularly to look for lost people or marijuana grows."
Just after 2:30 p.m., searchers put out a call to East Bay fire agencies for help with the search process.
"It's so those available would come out to help support the management of the incident," Knowles said. "The other difficult part is that it's a somewhat remote area."
Story and video: http://www.contracostatimes.com
A body was also found at the scene of the wreckage and officials believe it is likely the pilot and owner of the plane, 60-year-old John Sacco.
Search crews located the wreckage earlier in the afternoon on Palomares Road in Castro Valley, Alameda County Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said.
At 11:25 a.m., the plane was traveling at 74 knots, but slowed dramatically to 39 knots a minute later, sources told NBC Bay Area. The pilot reportedly lost contact with air traffic control three minutes later, sources said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact with the plane, a Piper PA-32, about 12 miles east of Oakland International Airport around 11:30 a.m.
The Alameda County Fire Department received reports of a downed aircraft, which was traveling from Lincoln in Placer County to Oakland, at 12:02 p.m., Knowles said.
Sources said that the plane's tail number is N323PA. The single-engine aircraft belongs to Sacco, a well-known businessman in the Sacramento-area, who was appointed to the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board in August.
Sacco's LinkedIn profile indicates that he owns Earthshine Consulting, which is based in Rocklin. There is no word yet on whether he was flying the plane when it went down.
Firefighters from both the Alameda County and Livermore-Pleasanton fire departments searched for the plane with assistance from Cal Fire, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and East Bay Regional Park District, Knowles said. Officials, unable to use choppers due to inclement weather, instead relied on ground crews and a drone to look for the plane.
"The best situation for us to find a plane is to deploy another aircraft to find it," Alameda County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. J.D. Nelson said. "But today with the fog and the rain made it very difficult."
Two Alameda County firefighters suffered non life-threatening injuries during the ground search for the downed plane.
It is not known what caused the small plane to crash near the Sunol and Castro Valley border. Aviation expert Mike McCarron said there are many factors, including weather, that come into play when an aircraft goes down.
"It's very changeable," McCarron said of weather conditions. "It's a critical factor for any tpe of plane, whether it be commercial or general."
Tuesday's incident comes two days after another single-engine plane, carrying a family of five from Gilroy, crashed near Bakersfield.
Crews are scheduled to resume recovery efforts of the plane wreckage in Castro Valley on Wednesday morning.
Story and video: http://www.nbcbayarea.com
Sheriff's deputies say the plane went down in steep terrain. That, combined with the darkness and the recent rain, will delay the operation until Wednesday morning.
John Sacco was on his way to Oakland from Lincoln in Placer County. He lost contact with air traffic control around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Search crews found the wreckage in a deep canyon near Palomares Road in Castro Valley.
Officials believe weather may have played a role in the crash.
"It's a fairly large area of wreckage, looks like the plane may have clipped some treetops before crashing into the ground. It's a very rough, difficult terrain. It's probably had 3 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, so it's very muddy, slippery, difficult to get to," Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. spokesperson J.D. Nelson said.
Deputies will remain to secure the scene overnight.
Story and video: http://abc7news.com
Sacco, a resident of Rocklin, was the sole person on board the single-engine plane, family told KPIX 5.
Crews recovered the wreckage of the plane off Palomares Road Tuesday afternoon. The plane was found in bushy terrain and crews are working on determining what resources are needed to recover it, county fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office will be taking over the recovery efforts, Knowles said.
Fire crews started looking for the Piper PA-32 single-engine plane after air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilot at about 11:30 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Alameda County Fire Officials said that Sacco reported having engine trouble just before losing contact with air traffic controllers.
The plane was en route from Lincoln in Placer County to Oakland but was lost about 12 miles east of Oakland International Airport, FAA officials said.
The Alameda County Fire Department received reports of a downed aircraft near Sunol at 12:02 p.m. and began a ground search for it since fog prevented them from searching by air, Knowles said.
Fire officials said at about 3:45 p.m. that firefighters and sheriff’s deputies had located the wreckage of the plane.
Two firefighters were injured while searching for the plane, one with a leg injury and another with a shoulder injury, Knowles said. Neither injury is considered life-threatening.
Firefighters with the Alameda County department, the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, Oakland fire and Cal Fire assisted with the search along with the sheriff’s office and the East Bay Regional Park District.
Story and video: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com
At around 3:45 p.m., the Alameda County Fire Department tweeted wreckage from the missing plane has been located near Palomares Road in Castro Valley. The plane was found in bushy terrain.
The Alameda County Fire Department received reports of a downed aircraft in the area at 12:02 p.m.
The pilot of the plane is presumed dead, a fire spokeswoman said.ktxlpilot
Family identified the pilot as John Sacco. Family members said he owns an environmental consulting firm called Earthshine Consulting.
The family also said he usually flies to the Bay Area for business. Sacco was described as very experienced with flying planes.
The remains have not yet been officially identified by authorities.
A body found at the scene of a small plane crash in a rural area of Alameda County today is believed to be the pilot’s, a fire spokeswoman said.
Air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilot of a Piper PA-32 single-engine plane at about 11:30 a.m. as the plane was en route from Lincoln in Placer County to Oakland, according to Ian Gregor, a spokesperson with Federal Aviation Administration.
The plane was about 12 miles east of Oakland International Airport, FAA officials said.
Images from the scene show heavy fog in the area.
Crews are still working to confirm the reports and find the aircraft. Firefighters from both the Alameda County department and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department are searching for it, fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles.
Two firefighters were injured in the search, but the injuries are not life-threatening.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office will be taking over the recovery efforts, Knowles said.
Story and video: http://kron4.com
CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (KTVU/BCN) - Alameda County Fire crews reported Tuesday afternoon that they had located the wreckage from a missing single engine plane off of Palomares Road in Castro Valley. Officials say the body found near the wreckage is presumed to be the pilot's.
The Sheriff's department confirms he was the only person on board. Family members confirmed to a Fox TV station affiliate in Sacramento that the pilot's identity was that of 60-year-old John Sacco of Rocklin. He was an industrial hygienist and safety engineer for Earthshine Consulting.
Crews won’t be able to recover the body until the weather clears, possibly on Wednesday. First responders said heavy fog was a major issue in their search for wreckage. Dozens of firefighters, deputies and other personnel, hiked, used ATVs and even a drone in their search for the missing plane.
Photo Wreckage from single engine plane found in Castro Valley, pilot identified
Air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilot of a Piper PA-32 single-engine plane at about 11:30 a.m. as the plane was en route from Lincoln in Placer County to Oakland, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
"It looks like the plane may have clipped some treetops before crashing into the ground," said J.D. Nelson, Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. spokesman. He added it was difficult terrain.
The plane was about 12-miles east of Oakland International Airport, FAA officials said.
The Alameda County Fire Department received reports of a downed aircraft near Sunol at 12:02 p.m., fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said.
Alameda County Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeff Kramm said they found the wreckage after spotting a small amount of smoke. He said there was heavy timber, brush and a muddy slope.
"It was a heavy impact," Kramm said.
Story and video: http://www.ktvu.com
Sgt. J.D. Nelson, a spokesman for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, said the plane was found in pieces in a hilly, wooded area about 4 p.m. He said the only person on board, a man, was deceased. Nelson said the man has not been identified, and he said the body might not be brought out until Wednesday morning, explaining that the wreckage is in a precarious location. Two firefighters suffered injuries trying to reach the site, he said.
A family member confirmed that the registered owner of the plane is John J. Sacco of Earthshine Consulting and said Sacco had been unreachable by phone.
Fire and law enforcement agencies had been searching the unincorporated area of Alameda County for an airplane that was reported in distress Tuesday morning.
Aisha Knowles, spokeswoman for the Alameda County Fire Department, said the pilot of a single-engine aircraft radioed air traffic controllers in Oakland that the plane was experiencing an engine problem. The department reported shortly before 4 p.m. that the wreckage had been found off Palomares Road.
Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact with a Piper PA-32 about 12 miles east of Oakland International Airport about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. He said the FAA issued an alert notice, the first step in initiating a search.
Alameda County fire officials said limited visibility in the area prevented an air search
Story and video: http://www.sacbee.com
SUNOL, Calif. (AP) —A small plane that disappeared Tuesday while traveling to Oakland was found crashed hours later, and a body has been found among the wreckage, the Alameda County Fire Department said.
The wreckage of the plane from Lincoln was found in Castro Valley Tuesday afternoon.
The plane was found in bushy terrain, and crews are working to determine what resources are needed to recover it, county fire spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane -- with tail number N323PA -- was registered to John Sacco, of Rocklin. It is not confirmed if Sacco was flying the plane.
Sacco's family said they have not heard anything from police about the identity of the person found at the crash site. Sacco, who is an entrepreneur and certified industrial hygienist, helps firms understand and avoid occupational health hazards.
FAA officials said air traffic controllers lost radar and radio contact with a Piper PA-32 about 12 miles east of Oakland International Airport Tuesday morning. The pilot reported engine problems before the crash.
Knowles said the department received reports of a downed aircraft, which was traveling from Lincoln to Oakland.
Fire officials said at about 3:45 p.m., firefighters and sheriff's deputies had located the wreckage of the plane.
Two firefighters were injured trying to avoid a falling tree that was damaged when the plane crashed against it. Their injuries were non-life threatening.
The crash comes two days after a single-engine plane, carrying a family of five from Gilroy, crashed near Bakersfield, killing everyone on board.
Story and video: http://www.kcra.com
Emergency teams operate from a Sunol unified command post.
Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Battalion Chief Paul Legasa leads a search for a reported missing single engine plane from a command center along Palomares Road near Niles Canyon Road in Sunol, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015. The plane's wreckage was found by a ground search party in an area off of Pa
lomares Road in Castro Valley.
Isn't this the same area/place as the plane that crashed the other day in Bakersfield?
ReplyDeleteit's approximately 200 miles from the bakersfield crash site.
ReplyDeleteYes, far from Bakersfield. In the greenbelt East of Union City. Tons of police and fire fighters in the area earlier today.
ReplyDeleteSingle Pilot IFR?
ReplyDeleteThe story said He reported engine trouble. ...which if was Single Pilot IFR a bad situation for sure...
ReplyDelete