Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754
Aviation Accidents at Half Moon Bay Airport
Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF), operated by the County of San Mateo, sits on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, west of the Santa Cruz Mountains and approximately twenty-three miles south of San Francisco. The airport operates without an air traffic control tower. The surrounding geography — ocean to the west, mountains immediately to the east, and persistent coastal fog and marine layer throughout the year — creates instrument meteorological conditions that close in rapidly without warning. The NTSB has investigated nine fatal accidents in the Half Moon Bay area since 1982, producing twenty fatalities. Spatial disorientation in dark night conditions is a recurring cause across multiple accidents at this airport.
Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured in aviation accidents at Half Moon Bay Airport and throughout San Mateo County. The accident record at HAF reflects a consistent pattern of night departures into IMC and the deadly consequences of spatial disorientation over dark water at low altitude.
NTSB Accident Record at Half Moon Bay Airport
The following is drawn from the NTSB's CAROL accident database and represents historical investigation records only.
In January 2024, a homebuilt Cozy MK IV departed Half Moon Bay into night instrument meteorological conditions and struck the Pacific Ocean, killing all four aboard (NTSB Accident Report No. WPR24FA073). The NTSB found the airplane impacted the ocean for undetermined reasons after departing in night IMC. In May 1998, a Piper PA-28-161 operated by Inbound Aviation departed into night conditions and crashed, killing four (LAX98LA172). The NTSB attributed the accident to the non-instrument-rated pilot's loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation — a condition that develops within seconds when a pilot without instrument training loses visual reference to the horizon. A June 1994 accident (LAX94LA261) produced two additional fatalities from the same cause pattern: spatial disorientation on departure from a coastal airport at night.
Other fatal accidents include a May 2023 Viking Air DHC-6 ferry flight accident (WPR23LA192) killing two after the ferry fuel tank system failed to transfer fuel during a trans-Pacific flight; a January 2012 AeroPro CZ A240 crash (WPR13FA013) killing one after a non-instrument-rated pilot departed into IMC; a 1997 aerobatic aircraft accident (LAX97LA173) killing two; and a 1987 Cessna 310Q crash (LAX87FA156) killing two.
Liability at Half Moon Bay Airport
San Mateo County as Airport Operator
Half Moon Bay Airport is operated by the County of San Mateo, a public entity. The airport is non-towered, meaning the County does not provide ATC services — but the County does bear responsibility for the physical design and maintenance of the airport, its approaches, and the obstacles in its vicinity. Claims against San Mateo County for dangerous conditions at the airport are governed by Government Code § 835. The County is also vicariously liable for the acts of its employees under Government Code § 815.2. Claims against San Mateo County require a government tort claim under Government Code § 911.2 within six months of the incident. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Tolling may apply — contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the specific timeline in your case.
Pilot Negligence and Negligent Entrustment
The dominant cause pattern at Half Moon Bay is non-instrument-rated pilots departing into instrument meteorological conditions at night. A pilot without an instrument rating who departs when the ceiling and visibility are below the minimums required for visual flight violates 14 C.F.R. § 91.155. Violation of that regulation is evidence of negligence per se under California Evidence Code § 669. Flying clubs, rental operations, and flight schools that make aircraft available to pilots who are not certificated for the conditions being flown bear potential liability for negligent entrustment alongside the pilot. Whether a flight school operator knew or should have known that a student or renter was likely to attempt night IFR flight without an instrument rating is a factual question that goes directly to that liability.
Fuel System Failure and Manufacturer Liability
The May 2023 DHC-6 accident (WPR23LA192) involved a ferry fuel tank system that failed to transfer fuel as designed during a trans-Pacific flight. When a fuel system fails to perform its designed function and the aircraft runs out of fuel as a direct result, the manufacturer's design and the mechanic's installation are both at issue. Civil Code § 1714 imposes a duty of ordinary care on anyone whose negligence causes injury.
Filing Deadlines for Half Moon Bay Aviation Claims
The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against San Mateo County require a government tort claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Missing the six-month deadline can potentially bar a claim against the County. Tolling may apply depending on the facts.
Related Pages
- San Francisco Bay Area Aviation Accident Attorney
- California Aviation Accident Attorney
- Half Moon Bay Personal Injury Attorney
Attorney Michael Rehm represents aviation accident victims in Half Moon Bay and throughout California on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.
The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.