# NTSB LAX70AL052: Piper PA-28, N9128W, Summit, CA, March 4, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 4, 1970
- Place: Summit, CA · SUMMIT, CA
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 4, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141236
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX70AL052
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70AL052

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0607   70/3/4    SUMMIT,CALIF        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 22, 406
        TIME - 1336                    N9128W              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 32 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LA  VERNE,CALIF             LAS VEGAS,NEV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     120
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           40                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ENCOUNTERED HIGH VELOCITY DOWNDRAFTS DURING LOW  ALTITUDE FLT IN MT PASS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9128W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9128W-1970-09-03), registration cancelled 1970-09-03, S/N 28-10745 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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.

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