# NTSB LAX76AL056: Piper PA-28, N15660, Goleta, CA, February 14, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 14, 1976
- Place: Goleta, CA · GOLETA, CA
- Location: 34.4354° N, 119.8589° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Goleta, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4354&lon=-119.8589&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 149769
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76AL056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76AL056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0750  76/2/14  NR.GOLETA,CA          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 26, 169
        TIME - 1240                    N15660              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 66 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BURBANK,CA                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE/RADIO, LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               6000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO OBSCURED MTN SLOPE. RECOVERY DATE 2/17/76. PLT DIDNT REQUEST ENROUTE OR DEST WEA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15660](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15660-1976-06-14), registration cancelled 1976-06-14, S/N 28-7325127 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19760214010559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760214010559A), Feb 14, 1976: Piper PA28140, Goleta, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into obscured mtn slope. Recovery date 2/17/76. Plt didnt request enroute or dest wea.

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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