# NTSB LAX80FA053: Piper PA-28, N8081H, Redding, CA, February 16, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 16, 1980
- Place: Redding, CA · REDDING, CA
- Location: 40.5865° N, 122.3917° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Redding, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5865&lon=-122.3917&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131601
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA053

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1661  80/2/16  NR.REDDING,CA         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 109
        TIME - 1835                    N8081H              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 7 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HILLSBORO,OR                REDDING,CA                   MEDFORD,OR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- MOUNTAIN PASS ENROUTE TO DEST OBSCURED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8081H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8081H-1980-04-29), registration cancelled 1980-04-29, S/N 28-8016054 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (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 19800216005719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800216005719A), Feb 16, 1980: Piper PA28161, Redding, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flying at low altitude following highway. Hit rising terrain at dusk in deteriorating weather. Ignored advisory.

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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