# NTSB LAX81DXQ05: Piper PA-32, N31872, So.Lake Tahoe, CA, December 8, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Case · Closed
- Date: December 8, 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
- Status: Completed
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127492
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DXQ05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DXQ05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3575   80/12/8   SO.LAKE TAHOE,CA    PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 25, 692
        TIME - 1220                    N31872              PX-  0  4  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 23 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SO.LAKE TAHOE,CA            VAN NUYS,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        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                                                      45
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31872](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31872-1982-11-30), registration cancelled 1982-11-30, S/N 32R-7885133, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane

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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