# NTSB LAX81FA039: Piper PA-31, N1938W, Mt Shasta, CA, January 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 22, 1981
- Place: Mt Shasta, CA · MT SHASTA, CA
- Location: 41.3209° N, 122.3155° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mount Shasta, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3209&lon=-122.3155&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA039
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA039

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2397  81/1/22    MT SHASTA,CA        PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0929                    N1938W              PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      25, 2238 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          REDDING,CA                  MONTAGUE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      150
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           3                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- STRUCK MT SHASTA AT APRX 13600FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1938W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1938W-1984-01-25), registration cancelled 1984-01-25, S/N 31-7300959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810122001199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810122001199A), Jan 22, 1981: Piper PA31310, Mount Shasta, CA, Destroyed. Impacted side of cloud-shrouded mountain in a climb attitude. Icing, severe turbulence in area. Was VFR off course.

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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