Small Plane Crash @ 89CA (Halter Ranch)

[farmrjohn]

Oops, not quite how you would want to start your wine tasting experience. vineyard crash and Second article I haven't flown in but have walked along side the runway which bisects the vineyards.

 

[RIlls]

Featured in an AOPA article two years ago.

Enjoy the Flight at Halter Ranch

aopa.org

 

[flyingron]

Halter Ranch was one of my favorite Paso wineries. The CDP is quite nice.

I was very fortunate to get a tour of Javier Arango's WWI-era collection at his airstrip east of town (95CA) before he was unfortunately killed flying his Nieuport 28 replica.

 

[Flying Keys]

Uh oh, that’s a Pipistrel Alpha. Last I checked, they’re not meant to carry “three souls.”

Anyway, for reference in case it’s relevant:

KPRB 082253Z AUTO 21020G30KT 10SM CLR 21/12 A2988 RMK AO2 PK WND 21030/2203 SLP114 T02110117

To be fair, there are microclimates all over that area, so what’s happening at PRB may not be a great indication of what’s happening in the hills 7 miles away.

Halter has a 3353’ runway 4-22 and is situated in a narrow, but not overly deep valley at 1488’ MSL. The runway slopes down about 2.2% to the southwest. Density altitude would have been about 2500’.

 

[Flying Keys]

It’s hard to say for sure, but according to one of the sources, the timing of the crash lines up with the arrival of the aircraft, which according to ADS-B had lined up for an uphill landing on runway 4 before dropping from coverage.

If that’s the case, that’s a few hours earlier than the METAR I posted above (which I had based on the timing on the fire call). The only substantive difference between those times is the wind at PRB was 190@15 at the earlier time. Temp and resulting DA would have been about the same.

 

[Kenny Phillips]

No injuries? That thing is completely racked. Amazing.
One article called it a "four-seat trainer", but Pipistrel has yet to release a four-seater in the USA.
There will be some explaining to do.

 

[Kyle N]

Could the 3rd passenger of been a lap child?

I can't imagine 3 adults fitting in an Alpha but I've seen crazier things.

 

[moparrob66]

I just watched a video of that destination and added it to my list of someday-trips.

 

[FPK1]

Here is a good look at the area, runway and weather...

 

[tobnpr]

Interesting...last photo in second article linked above appears to show the airplane 50 ft off to the side of the runway and parallel to it, not short of it-