# NTSB LAX81FA114: Piper PA-28, N2300T, So Lake Tahoe, CA, August 2, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 2, 1981
- Place: So Lake Tahoe, CA · SO LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Location: 38.9282° N, 119.9810° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Lake Tahoe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9282&lon=-119.9810&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 October 28, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123963
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA114
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA114

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2425   81/8/2  NR.SO LAKE TAHOE,CA   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 212
        TIME - 1550                    N2300T              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA         FULLERTON,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)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      81
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2300T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2300T-1983-08-16), registration cancelled 1983-08-16, S/N 28-7125478 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (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 19810802048919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810802048919A), Aug 2, 1981: Piper PA28140, South Lake Taho, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Loaded near gross, hot day, high altitude takeoff. Unable to outclimb rising terrain. Made non-standard departure.

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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