# NTSB LAX81FA073: Piper PA-28, N81814, Kernville, CA, April 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 17, 1981
- Place: Kernville, CA · KERNVILLE, CA
- Location: 35.7550° N, 118.4309° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kernville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7550&lon=-118.4309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126644
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA073
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA073

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0546  81/4/17  NR.KERNVILLE,CA       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 447
        TIME - 0715                    N81814              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 3 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         KERNVILLE,CA                 TULARE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    25000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      64
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- OBSD CLBG TWD GREENHORN MTN PASS.HIT 150FT REDWOOD DRG TURN BFR REACHING PASS.D/A APPX 12700FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81814](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81814-1983-06-25), registration cancelled 1983-06-25, S/N 288016302 (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

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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