# NTSB LAX80FA061: Piper PA-23, N4180P, So.Lake Tahoe, CA, March 3, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 3, 1980
- Place: So.Lake Tahoe, CA · SO.LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Location: 38.9282° N, 119.9810° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Lake Tahoe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9282&lon=-119.9810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA061
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA061

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3746   80/3/3  NR.SO.LAKE TAHOE,CA   PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 49,
        TIME - 1704                    N4180P              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TRUCKEE,CA                  SANTA ROSA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - HYPOXIA
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE/RADIO, LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              33
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4180P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4180P-1981-01-12), registration cancelled 1981-01-12, S/N 23-1668 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (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 19800303005879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800303005879A), Mar 3, 1980: Piper PA23160, Lake Tahoe, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain during snow-storm. The aircraft was not equipped with any deicing systems.

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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