# NTSB LAX82FA084: Piper PA-28-180, N3646R, Truckee, CA, February 22, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1982, 18:45 local (Feb 22, 1982, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Truckee, CA
- Location: 39.3280° N, 120.1833° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Truckee, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3280&lon=-120.1833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 21, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72862
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72862/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA084

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - terrain condition - downhill

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS ON A RETURN FLIGHT FROM LIVERMORE, CA TO TRUCKEE. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON A DARK NIGHT AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 6700 FT MSL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ANGLE OF IMPACT WAS ABOUT 25 DEGREES DOWNWARD ON A DOWN HILL SLOPE. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. DONNER PASS WAS REPORTED TO BE CLOSED AT 1800 DUE TO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH OF DONNER PASS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3646R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3646R-1988-11-03), registration cancelled 1988-11-03, S/N 285741 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5741
- Airframe hours: 2487
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Douglas Charles Crosby
- Registered owner: Sheila R. Rynearson
- Departed: TRK, LIVERMORE, CA
- Destination: LVK, TRUCKEE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 100 total, 80 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark

## 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 19820221002579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820221002579A), Feb 21, 1982: Piper PA28180, Truckee, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft was found at 6700 feet elevation. Thunderstorms were reported west of proposed route.

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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