# NTSB LAX81FA079: Piper PA-32, N8921N, Tehachapi, CA, April 26, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 26, 1981
- Place: Tehachapi, CA · TEHACHAPI, CA
- Location: 35.1430° N, 118.4460° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tehachapi, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1430&lon=-118.4460&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 12, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125664
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA079
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA079

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1290  81/4/26    TEHACHAPI,CA        PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 58, 1920
        TIME - 1115                    N8921N              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 4 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STOCKTON,CA                 HEMET,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
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8921N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- 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 19810426018639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810426018639A), Apr 26, 1981: Piper PA32RT300, Tehachapi, CA, Destroyed. Indicates airplane struck hillside near top of cloud-obscured hill in level flight. Mountainous terrain.

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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