# NTSB LAX80FA083: Piper PA-23, N63780, Solvang, CA, April 20, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 20, 1980
- Place: Solvang, CA · SOLVANG, CA
- Location: 34.5938° N, 120.1397° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Solvang, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5938&lon=-120.1397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130921
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA083

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1376  80/4/20  NR.SOLVANG,CA         PIPER PA-23         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1802                    N63780              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 24, 1113 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            12 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PALO ALTO,CA                SANTA YNEZ,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      58
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       30
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- VOR-B APCH.HIT MTN 10MI FRM ARPT.PLT FLYING IN AREA STATED MTNS OBSCURED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63780](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63780-1981-03-10), registration cancelled 1981-03-10, S/N 27-7754107 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250 (6PCLM)](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250-6pclm) (registry code 7102313) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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