# NTSB LAX72AL002: Piper PA-28, N5125L, Lake Tahoe, CA, June 26, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 26, 1971
- Place: Lake Tahoe, CA · LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Location: 38.9282° N, 119.9810° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Lake Tahoe, CA, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9282&lon=-119.9810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 16, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 161643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72AL002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1192  71/6/26  NR.LAKE TAHOE,CALIF   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 384
        TIME - 1702                    N5125L              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 17 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HANFORD,CALIF              LAKE TAHOE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 7/4/71. WEA BRIEF BY PHONE FROM LEMOORE NAS. CONT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEA. HIT MTN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5125L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5125L-1971-09-20), registration cancelled 1971-09-20, S/N 28-4408 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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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