# NTSB LAX81FA122: Piper PA32RT, N2174G, Happy Camp, CA, August 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 28, 1981
- Place: Happy Camp, CA · HAPPY CAMP, CA
- Location: 41.8157° N, 123.3926° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Happy Camp, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8157&lon=-123.3926&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA122
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA122

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3504  81/8/28  NR.HAPPY CAMP,CA      PIPER PA32RT        CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0910                    N2174G              PX-  3  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 36, 3175 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            25 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
         HAPPY CAMP,CA                SANTA ANA,CA                 NOVATO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
        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                                                      65
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT OBSD CIRCLING BFR ACDNT.ARCHEOLOGISTS W CAMERAS ABD.D/A APRX 5500FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2174G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT
- 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 19810828052509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810828052509A), Aug 28, 1981: Piper PA32RT300, Happy Camp, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flying at treetop level, heavily loaded. Struck trees on rising 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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