# NTSB LAX80FA091: Piper PA-23, N2546M, Bakersfield, CA, April 28, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 28, 1980
- Place: Bakersfield, CA · BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Location: 35.3733° N, 119.0187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bakersfield, CA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3733&lon=-119.0187&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 8 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130406
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA091
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA091

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1724  80/4/28    BAKERSFIELD,CA      PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 891
        TIME - 2054                    N2546M              PX-  7  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 80 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MEADOWS FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BAKERSFIELD,CA              VISALIA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      57
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2546M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2546M-2014-09-22), registration cancelled 2014-09-22, S/N 27-7954075 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Meadows Field

## 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 19800428010609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800428010609A), Apr 28, 1980: Piper PA23250, Bakersfield, CA, Destroyed, 7 fatal. Pilot departed in poor weather conditions and crashed three miles from airport. Not IFR rated.

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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