# NTSB LAX79FA050: Piper PA-32, N47534, La Posta, CA, May 8, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1979
- Place: La Posta, CA · LA POSTA, CA
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 1, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135477
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA050
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA050

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2781   79/5/8  NR.LA POSTA,CA        PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 487
        TIME - 1010                    N47534              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          YUMA,AZ                     SAN DIEGO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      47
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          250                                                       11
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- AVOIDING PWR LINES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47534](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47534-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N 32-7840009, built 1977 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (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 19790508029509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790508029509A), May 8, 1979: Piper PA32300, La Posta, CA, Destroyed. Attempted VFR flight in IFR conditions.

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.