# NTSB LAX80FA080: Piper PA-28, N41384, Big Bear City, CA, April 12, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 12, 1980
- Place: Big Bear City, CA · BIG BEAR CITY, CA
- Location: 34.2611° N, 116.8450° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Big Bear City, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2611&lon=-116.8450&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131012
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA080
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA080

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1385  80/4/12  NR.BIG BEAR CITY,CA   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 102
        TIME - 1254                    N41384              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 23 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BIG BEAR CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          RIALTO, CA                  RETURN                      BIG BEAR CITY,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      58
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           45                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT'S FIRST TKOF FRM HIGH ALT ARPT.DA APRX 8800FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41384](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41384-2011-02-28), registration cancelled 2011-02-28, S/N 28-7425234, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Big Bear City

## 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 19800412041919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800412041919A), Apr 12, 1980: Piper PA28140, Big Bear, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed departing nose high climb. Heard engine quit. Prop shows power on impact. No engine defects. Unknown.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.