# NTSB LAX78FUG32: Piper PA-32, N15420, Big Bear City, CA, May 21, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 21, 1978
- Place: Big Bear City, CA · BIG BEAR CITY, CA
- Location: 34.2611° N, 116.8450° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Big Bear City, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2611&lon=-116.8450&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 23, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142261
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUG32
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUG32

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0876  78/5/21    BIG BEAR CITY,CA    PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 273
        TIME - 1312                    N15420              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 36 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BIG BEAR CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BIG BEAR CITY,CA            SALINAS,CA.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          250                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- DENS ALT 9300FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15420](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15420-1988-04-07), registration cancelled 1988-04-07, S/N 327340042 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Big Bear City

## 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 19780521011669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780521011669A), May 21, 1978: Piper PA32300, Big Bear City, CA, Substantial damage. Dens alt 9300FT.

## Other investigations on N15420 (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 LAX85LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA226), Apr 27, 1985: Piper PA-32-300 (N15420), Oroville, CA, substantial damage

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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