# Accident 20070805016819A: Piper PA28140, South Lake Tah, CA, August 5, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2007, 09:45 local time
- Place: South Lake Tah, CA
- Airport: Lake Tahoe
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8725° N, 120.0033° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8725&lon=-120.0033&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8938C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8938C-2010-03-25) (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 O320E2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 610 total, 610 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07FA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA241) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070805016819A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT N8938C, PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED TVL ON 08/05/2007 AT APPROXIMATELY 0930 LOCAL. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TRYING TO CLIMB IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, BATTLING WINDS GUSTING TO 27 KTS, WHILE HEADING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. OTHER WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO TRY AND CLIMB WHILE ROLLING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS, NOSE HIGH, AND IN AN OBSERVED HIGH WIND AND DOWN DRAFT AREA. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT MADE A SHARP RIGHT BANK AND HEADED BACK FOR THE AIRPORT (TVL) CONTINUING TO SETTLE WITH NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED SEVERAL 150' TO 200' TREE TOPS AND CRASHED, WITH POST IMPACT FIRE, 1.3 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER IS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

## 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 LAX07FA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA241), Aug 5, 2007: Piper PA-28-140 (N8938C), S. Lake Tahoe, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/decision, and his failure to maintain clearance from trees during takeoff-initial climb. Contributing to the accident were turbulence, downdrafts, and rising…

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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