# NTSB LAX81FA040: Piper PA-28, N2246V, Hanford, CA, January 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 25, 1981
- Place: Hanford, CA · HANFORD, CA
- Location: 36.3281° N, 119.6548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hanford, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3281&lon=-119.6548&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126520
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1788  81/1/25    HANFORD,CA          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 33, 42 TOTAL
        TIME - 1115                    N2246V              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 16 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HANFORD MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HANFORD,CA                  RETURN                       MONTEREY,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        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
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           20                                                       *ERROR-INVALID CODE*
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2246V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2246V-1983-04-29), registration cancelled 1983-04-29, S/N 28-7916330, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Hanford Muni

## 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 19810125001429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810125001429A), Jan 25, 1981: Piper PA28181, Hanford, CA, Destroyed. Pilot departed in poor weather conditions and crashed five minutes after takeoff.

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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