# NTSB LAX79DUG48: Piper PA-32, N4085W, Hesperia, CA, June 17, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: June 17, 1979
- Place: Hesperia, CA · HESPERIA, CA
- Location: 34.4264° N, 117.3009° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hesperia, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4264&lon=-117.3009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 19, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135420
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79DUG48
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DUG48

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2006  79/6/17    HESPERIA,CA         PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 65, 798
        TIME - 0800                    N4085W              PX-  0  0  5  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 47 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HESPERIA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALINAS,CA.                 EL MONTE,CA.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        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                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 023-067 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           70                                                      360
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           25                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- WND GUSTING 35K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4085W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4085W-1981-03-11), registration cancelled 1981-03-11, S/N 32-40161, built 1967 (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: Hesperia

## 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 19790617007469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790617007469A), Jun 17, 1979: Piper PA32300, Hesperia, CA, Destroyed. Experienced strong downdraft on short final for runway. Struck trees, crashed on airport.

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.

---
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.