# NTSB LAX79FUG42: Piper PA-32, N3857W, Big Bear City, CA, June 3, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: June 3, 1979
- 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: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 16, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135638
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FUG42
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUG42

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1233   79/6/3    BIG BEAR CITY,CA    PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 60, 700
        TIME - 1530                    N3857W              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 445 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BIG BEAR CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALT LAKE CITY,UT           BIG BEAR CITY,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        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                                   TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          180                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3857W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3857W-1981-05-06), registration cancelled 1981-05-06, S/N 32-799, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- 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 19790603012219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790603012219A), Jun 3, 1979: Piper PA32260, Big Bear City, CA, Destroyed. Attempt. Crosswnd land,aborted same attempt. Go around with full flaps veered left of runway hit fence.

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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