# Accident 19910920042219A: Piper PA28181, Cupertino, CA, September 20, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 20, 1991, 23:34 local time
- Place: Cupertino, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2998° N, 122.0899° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2998&lon=-122.0899&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8272Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8272Y-1991-12-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28181
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4M
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 229 total, 179 in this make and model, 67 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX91FA399](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA399) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910920042219A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLEW INTO MOUNTAIN UPSLOPE AT NIGHT TRYING TO FLY TO BASE AIRPORT UNDER A LOW CEILING. PRIOR ILS MADE TO SAN JOSE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX91FA399](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA399), Sep 21, 1991: Piper PA-28-181 (N8272Y), Cupertino, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE, HIS IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT FLIGHT BELOW THE BASE OF AN OVERCAST LAYER OF CLOUDS TOWARD RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE FLIGHT'S…

## Other reports on N8272Y (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19860730036639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860730036639A), Jul 30, 1986: Piper PA28181 (N8272Y), Monument Valley, UT, Substantial damage. The aircraft landed hard during a precautionary landind due to sick passenger. Pilot reported a downdraft on final.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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