# NTSB LAX80FA068: Piper PA-28, N36728, Chester, CA, March 13, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 13, 1980
- Place: Chester, CA · CHESTER, CA
- Location: 40.3017° N, 121.2325° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chester, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3017&lon=-121.2325&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136413
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA068
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA068

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1386  80/3/13    CHESTER,CA          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 1000
        TIME - 2400                    N36728              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHESTER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COEUR D'ALENE,ID            VACAVILLE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           RAIN, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- DARK NIGHT,GUSTY WINDS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36728](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36728-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 28R-7803338, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Chester

## 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 19800313043619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800313043619A), Mar 13, 1980: Piper PA28R201T, Chester, CA, Destroyed. Pilot attempting precautionary landing at night crashed into lake short of 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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