# Accident 20030108000809A: Piper PA23250, Flagstaff, AZ, January 8, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 8, 2003, 12:20 local time
- Place: Flagstaff, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3058° N, 111.6183° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3058&lon=-111.6183&mi=10
- Aircraft: N135LA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N135LA-2014-10-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-250 (registry code 7102308, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-541 series (registry code 41536, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-541-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA23250
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030108000809A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JANUARY 8, 2003, WHILE OPERATING UNDER VFR, THE PIC OF N135LA FLEW INTO WEATHER SURROUNDING THE FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA, AREA AND DESCENDED BELOW THE MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT THE FLAGSTAFF AIRPORT. AFTER SUBSEQUENTLY BEING UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT VISUALLY DUE TO BEING IN THE CLOUDS, THE INSTRUMENT RATED PIC CONTACTED ALBUQUERQUE CENTER FOR AN IFR CLEARANCE. ATC GAVE THE PILOT INSTRUCTIONS TO CLIMB IN THE PUBLISHED HOLDING PATTERN SOUTHEAST OF THE FLG VOR TO 11000 FEET. HOWEVER, BEFORE THE PILOT COULD COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN SOUTH OF HUMPHREY'S PEAK (ELEVATION 12633) AT APPROXIMATELY THE 9000 FOOT LEVEL - IN LEVEL FLIGHT. THIS LOCATION IS APPROXIMATELY 10 NAUTICAL MILES NORTH OF THE FLAGSTAFF AIRPORT. THE PIC AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS WER FATALLY INJURED. THE PIC HAD NOT FILED A FLIGHT PLAN AND THERE IS NO RECORD THAT HE RECEIVED A PILOT WEATHER BRIEFING.

## 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 LAX03FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA069), Jan 8, 2003: Piper PA-23-250 (N135LA), Flagstaff, AZ, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to comply with his instrument clearance route instruction and to maintain his assigned altitude. A factor in the accident was the poor quality of radio communications due to the…

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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