# NTSB LAX80FA016: Piper PA-28, N9042K, Santa Barbara, CA, November 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 20, 1979
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA · SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Location: 34.4036° N, 119.7137° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Barbara, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4036&lon=-119.7137&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133200
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3510  79/11/20 NR.SANTA BARBARA,CA   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 22, 274
        TIME - 0215                    N9042K              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA BARBARA,CA            BAKERSFIELD,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        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                                                      53
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- AFTER TKOF,PLT RPRTD CLIMBING TO 7500FT.CRASHED APRX 80FT BLO MTN TOPS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9042K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9042K-1982-11-04), registration cancelled 1982-11-04, S/N 28-7890172 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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 19791120043619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791120043619A), Nov 20, 1979: Piper PA28181, Santa Barbara, CA, Destroyed. Pilot reported turbulence during last radio transmission. Aircraft wreckage found in mountainous area.

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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