Weather A Factor In Crash

Groveland, CA — The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report on last Friday’s deadly plane crash near Pine Mountain Lake.

Killed were 70-year-old biotechnology patent attorney Albert Halluin of San Carlos and his 60-year-old fiancee, Judy Perchonock of Redwood City.

The NTSB report indicates that weather conditions played a major factor in the accident. It says another pilot tried to land a Cessna 510 an hour prior to the accident and had to divert to Modesto because he couldn’t identify the runway environment during his approach. He stated that he had used the Pine Mountain Lake airport regularly and this was the first time he had to divert to an alternate airport.

Halluin was piloting a single engine Piper PA-32 when he crashed down in a residential neighborhood about 1,200 ft. north of the runway. Misting rain and low clouds were present at the time of the incident.

Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.