# Accident 20070713016279A: Piper PA28181, Lakeside, CA, July 13, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 13, 2007, 17:30 local time
- Place: Lakeside, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9731° N, 116.6856° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9731&lon=-116.6856&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38137, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38137-2010-05-28) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA219) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070713016279A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 13, 2007 AT 1701, N38137, A PA-28-181 DEPARTED MYF. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RADAR DATA ON HIS FLIGHT, BUT THE LOCATION OF THE WRECKAGE LEADS ONE TO SURMISE HE FLEW OVER EL CAPITAN RESERVOIR PAST THE DAM. HE THEN WOULD HAVE FLOWN UP THROUGH A CANYON AND SURROUNDING HILLS THAT WERE STEEPLY SLOPED AVERAGING BETWEEN 60 TO 80 DEGREES. AS HE ENTERED THE BOX CANYON IT APPEARS HE EXECUTED A RIGHT TURN AND STRUCK THE CANYON WALL AT APPROXIMATELY 2,293 FEET MSL. BOTH INDIVIDUALS WERE FOUND DECEASED AND SEAT BELTED IN THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO POST ACCIDENT FIRE. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION AND DISCUSSIONS WITH AN NTSB INVESTIGATOR HAS LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT IN QUESTION. DISCUSSIONS WITH A FSDO OPERATIONS INSPECTOR HAS LED US TO BELIEVE THAT THE PILOT MAY HAVE FLOWN INTO THIS BOX CANYON UNAWARE HOW TIGHT IT WAS. IN HIS HASTE TO EXIT THE CANYON HE MISJUDGED HIS DEPARTURE AND STRUCK THE CANYON WALL. (UNABLE TO LOCATE PILOT'S LOGBOOKS TO DETERMINE HIS HOURS IN THIS AIRCRAFT AS WELL AS HIS TOTAL HOURS). IF ANY RADAR DATE IS MADE AVAILABLE THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED.

## 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 LAX07FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA219), Jul 14, 2007: Piper PA-28-181 (N38137), El Cajon, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to attempt low altitude flight operations into a box canyon in mountainous terrain, and his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering to…

## Other reports on N38137 (1)

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

- [Accident 20030425012579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030425012579A), Apr 25, 2003: Piper PA28181 (N38137), Bullhead City, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was taxiing to parking after landing and attempted to maneuver around a fuel truck. The left wing of the aircraft collided with the fuel tank.…

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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