Accident Piper PA-28R-180 N7498J, Monday 9 February 1987

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Date:	Monday 9 February 1987
Time:	19:20 LT
Type:	Piper PA-28R-180
Owner/operator:	Reese Orchards
Registration:	N7498J
MSN:	28R-30860
Year of manufacture:	1968
Total airframe hrs:	2811 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-360-B1E
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Tulare, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Executive
Departure airport:	Madera, CA (KMAE)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND WHILE THE RUNWAY AND VASI APPROACH LIGHTS WERE OFF. THE NIGHT WAS DARK AND HE INADVERTENTLY LANDED ON A ROADWAY PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE WHEN THE ROAD CAME TO A DEAD END ADJACENT TO THE NEAR MIDFIELD POINT ON THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY AND APPROACH LIGHTS AT THE AIRPORT ARE RADIO CONTROLLED. DURING A TELEPHONIC INTERVIEW, THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NEVER USED THE RADIO PROCEDURES TO ILLUMINATE RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLIGHT.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: