# NTSB LAX80DXQ21: Piper PA-32, N102YT, Mammoth Lakes, CA, March 20, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1980
- Place: Mammoth Lakes, CA · MAMMOTH LAKES, CA
- Location: 37.6244° N, 118.9884° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mammoth Lakes, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6244&lon=-118.9884&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80DXQ21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DXQ21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0475  80/3/20    MAMMOTH LAKES,CA    PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 2639
        TIME - 1146                    N102YT              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 350 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MAMMOTH LAKES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL MONTE,CA                 MAMMOTH LAKES,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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 TAIL WIND 203-247 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           45                                                      210
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WINDS GUSTING TO 45KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N102YT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N102YT-1982-08-12), registration cancelled 1982-08-12, S/N 32-7340076 (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: Destroyed
- Airport: Mammoth Lakes

## 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 19800320007539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800320007539A), Mar 20, 1980: Piper PA32300, Mammoth Lakes, CA, Destroyed. Tried to land in known severe gusty crosswind. Landing gear severed by snowbank short of runway. Impacted runway.

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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