# Accident 19940303003649A: Piper PA31350, Frazier Park, CA, March 3, 1994

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 1994, 23:46 local time
- Place: Frazier Park, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: JIKA
- Location: 34.8008° N, 119.0098° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8008&lon=-119.0098&mi=10
- Aircraft: N78DE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78DE-1994-05-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540J2BD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 3,600 total, 135 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX94FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94FA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940303003649A

## Narrative

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

EN ROUTE AT NIGHT VFR FLEW INTO TREES ON A MOUNTAINSIDE. FAILED TO USE VIGILANCE AND ATC ENSAW ALTITUDE ALERTING.

## 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 LAX94FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94FA149), Mar 4, 1994: Piper PA-31-350 (N78DE), Frazier Park, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to select a cruise altitude which would ensure adequate terrain clearance. Contributing factors related to the dark, nighttime condition and to the pilot's lack of attentiveness.

## Other reports on N78DE (2)

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

- [Incident 19891005053159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891005053159I), Oct 5, 1989: Piper PA31350 (N78DE), Reno, NV, Minor damage. Left engine problem after takeoff. Returned. Fire in cowl while taxiing. NR6 piston had hole burned in it.
- [Incident 19800423046539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800423046539I), Apr 23, 1980: Piper PA31350 (N78DE), Danvers, MA. Rough engine. Problem corrected by replacing spark plugs.

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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