# Accident 20070418007919A: Piper PA28140, Tehachapi, CA, April 18, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2007, 07:30 local time
- Place: Tehachapi, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0589° N, 118.5144° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0589&lon=-118.5144&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8168N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8168N-2007-06-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- Reported engine: LYC O320E3D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070418007919A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FRESNO CHANDLER IN VFR DAY CONDITIONS ENROUTE TO LANCASTER, CA, WHICH WAS ALSO VFR. THE MOUNTAIN RANGE SEPARATING THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY FROM THE MOJAVE DESERT WAS OBSCURED WITH CLOUDS, AND THESE MOUNTAINS WERE BETWEEN THE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION AIRPORTS. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THESE MOUNTAINS IN A LEVEL CRUISE CONFIGURATION AT 6800 FEET MSL ON A DIRCT COURSE BETWEEN FRESNO AND LANCASTER. A GPS RECEIVER HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT. NO VFR AERONAUTICAL CHART COULD BE FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING POWER AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS INTACT AT THE TIME IT STRUCK THE TERRAIN.

## 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 SEA07FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07FA106), Apr 18, 2007: Piper PA-28-140 (N8168N), Tehachapi, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's VFR flight into IMC and his ensuing failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the cloudy weather conditions and the mountainous terrain.

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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