# NTSB investigations: Piper PA-28-161: In flight collision with terrain/water NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB LAX07FA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA060.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Big Pine, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 21, 2006 · N9141Y · Substantial damage > The inadequate in-flight/planning decision of both pilots to fly up a box canyon at low altitude, and their failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. - [NTSB LAX04LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA260.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Bridgeport, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 11, 2004 · N6106H · Substantial damage > the pilot's failure to attain an adequate altitude to clear mountainous terrain during a high density altitude condition. - [NTSB CHI04LA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA173.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Waubun, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2004 · N248ND · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to get the proper rest prior to the night cross country flight and the pilot's failure to maintain altitude. Contributing factors to the accident were fatigue as a result of inadequate sleep, conditions conducive to fatigue, and night. - [NTSB LAX04FA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA137.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Jean, NV · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 16, 2004 · N9199Z · Destroyed > !!This case was modified January 31, 2006!! the pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance with the rising terrain, while maneuvering at low altitude in a mountainous area. - [NTSB DEN01FA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01FA111.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Meeker, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 29, 2001 · N5999V · Destroyed > the pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance as a result of his drug induced impairment. A factor was his exceeding the airplane's gross weight limits. - [NTSB LAX99LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA148.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Van Nuys, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 15, 1999 · N8466F · Substantial damage > The check pilot's inadequate supervision of the flight and his failure to ensure that an adequate altitude margin existed during the maneuver. - [NTSB CHI96LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA319.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Pittsburg, KS · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 29, 1996 · N47558 · Substantial damage > the pilot diverted his attention and failed to maintain sufficient altitude and clearance with the terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, and the pilot performing low altitude flight at night. - [NTSB SEA95LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA157.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Lakeview, OR · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 21, 1995 · N83125 · Substantial damage > the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain while his attention was directed to reading his map. The pilot's intentional low-altitude operation of the aircraft contributed to the accident. - [NTSB CHI95LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA166.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Valparaiso, IN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 3, 1995 · N8447T · Destroyed > The pilot's improper execution of the ILS approach. Factors related to the accident were the fog and the pilot's lack of total flight time in actual instrument conditions. - [NTSB CHI95FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95FA012.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Winfield, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 16, 1994 · N9089U · Destroyed > Collision with the ground for an undetermined reason. The pilot's psychological condition was a probable factor. - [NTSB BFO94LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA036.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Newburyport, MA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 29, 1994 · N2496X · Substantial damage > The pilot not maintaining clearance from the snowbank during final approach. A factor in this accident was the proximity of the snowbank to the active runway. - [NTSB CHI93LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA131.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Northwood, ND · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 5, 1993 · N108ND · Substantial damage > The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. - [NTSB ANC92LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA055.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Kenai, AK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 29, 1992 · N82757 · Substantial damage > Terrain clearance was not maintained. Factors to the accident were: snow covered hilly terrain, and diverted attention. - [NTSB MIA92LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA079.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Fernandina Bch, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 8, 1992 · N8346B · Substantial damage > Spatial disorientation and failure of the pilot-in-command to set the altimeter to the field elevation prior to departure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of total and recent experience. - [NTSB SEA92FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92FA042.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Ogden, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 6, 1992 · N4370B · Destroyed > The improper decision by the instructor pilot to perform maintenance in flight and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. Factors relating to the accident were the dark night light conditions, mountainous terrain in the area, and the instructor diverting… - [NTSB NYC91LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA047.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Easton, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 13, 1990 · N9898K · Substantial damage > The flight instructor allowed the airplane to get too low on final approach during the demonstration of a power off landing. - [NTSB NYC90FA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA135.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Greenville, ME · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 19, 1990 · N44897 · Destroyed > Failure of the pilot to maintain the proper altitude, while searching for the destination airport at night. Factors related to the accident were: darkness, fog obscuring the destination airport lights, mountainous terrain, and the lack of visual perception at… - [NTSB SEA90FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90FA098.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Susanville, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 8, 1990 · N47472 · Destroyed > An improper inflight decision on the part of the pilot when he misjudged the aircraft's climb in close proximity to rising terrain. - [NTSB LAX90FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA113.md): Piper PA28-161 · Malibu, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 11, 1990 · N2951S · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to turn into an area of known high terrain after inadvertently encountering instrument meteorological conditions. - [NTSB FTW89FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA065.md): Piper PA-28-161 · New Orleans, LA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 12, 1989 · N8369K · Destroyed > The pilot diverting his attention from flying the aircraft while complying with the departure control instructions, and allowing the aircraft to descend into the water. - [NTSB LAX88FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA113.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Rosamond, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 21, 1988 · N8321K · Destroyed > Decision of the pilot to attempt multiple low level passes over a residence in an area of rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the significant levels of methamphetamine and amphetamine found in both the pilot's blood and urine specimens. A factor… - [NTSB NYC87FAMS2](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FAMS2.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Nantucket, MA · Accident · 2 fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report · Aug 23, 1987 · N83232 · Destroyed > The Piper PA-28-161 with a pilot and passenger onboard disappeared from the radar scope while being vectored to an ILS approach to rwy 24 at Nantucket, MA. The controller observed the aircraft in a southeasterly heading and asked the tower controller to… - [NTSB NYC87FA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA038.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Glen Mawr, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 26, 1986 · N8130A · Destroyed > Drg arrival, the acft was vectored to intercept the ILS rwy 27 localizer (LOC) bfr reaching the munci initial apch fix (iaf), which was 21.5 mi fm the rwy. The ATC controller (ctlr) told the plt to maint 4000' until on the LOC, then clrd him for the apch.… - [NTSB LAX85LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA103.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Beaumont, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 9, 1985 · N29493 · Substantial damage > The acft was on a personal VFR flt to santa barbara, CA, on a dark ovcst night. Marginal VFR conditions with lgt rain prevailed. Gnd witnesses rptd the acft was following the hwy at about 200 ft AGL prior to the accident. The plt rptd he inadvertently began… - [NTSB NYC84LA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA280.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Caldwell, NJ · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 20, 1984 · N4314L · Substantial damage > The acft hit the surface of the water during a low pass which was described by a witness as 10-30 ft AGL & done in a series of passes with 'wings wobbling' until the pass that damaged the gear & wing causing the plt & acft to depart the area. Upon returning… - [NTSB LAX84FA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA096.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Danville, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 8, 1983 · N2862C · Destroyed > The acft collided with rising terrain at the 1600 ft level on a dark night. The plt was on a night cross-country and hadmade a radio call saying he was unsure of his position. He then reported his alt as 2000 ft. the buchanan tower gave him a heading to fly… - [NTSB LAX83LVW02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LVW02.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Beatty, NV · Accident · No injuries · Final report · Dec 19, 1982 · N8154X · Substantial damage > The pilot landed on a 1700 long strip at the elevation of about 3500 ft MSL. He elected to takeoff to the north in calm wind conditions and avoid sun glare off the cover of his engine and on the windshield. He stated that soft field procedures were used in… - [NTSB LAX82FA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA294.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Corcoran, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 9, 1982 · N47489 · Destroyed > The acft crashed approximately 25 minutes after takeoff. There were no witnesses to the accident. The crash site was a plowed & cultivated seed alfalfa farm land. Ground scars reveal that the acft struck the ground in a level flight attitude, all wheels… ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102803', '7102834') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 230)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=7102803&occurrence=230 --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.