# NTSB LAX81FA059: Piper PA-28, N5956W, Molokai, HI, March 14, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 14, 1981
- Place: Molokai, HI · MOLOKAI, HI
- Location: 21.1383° N, 157.0125° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Molokaʻi, HI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.1383&lon=-157.0125&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 18, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126537
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA059
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA059

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2429  81/3/14  NR.MOLOKAI,HI         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1500                    N5956W              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 30, 2424 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            45 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MAUI,HI                     HONOLULU,HI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                       60
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- BLOOD SAMPLES FOR ALL PAX WERE POSITIVE FOR MARIJUANA.6/10THS GRAM OF 86% PURE COCAINE FD IN ACFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5956W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5956W-1983-04-12), registration cancelled 1983-04-12, S/N 28-3714 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160) (registry code 7102806) (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 19810314009629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810314009629A), Mar 14, 1981: Piper PA28160, Molokai, HI, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot attempted flight into IMC in mountainous terrain. Aircraft crashed into side of mountain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.