# NTSB LAX82FVW04: Piper PA-23-250, N14168, Panaca, NV, September 27, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 26, 1982, 20:00 local (Sep 27, 1982, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Panaca, NV
- Location: 37.7881° N, 114.4005° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Panaca, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7881&lon=-114.4005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FVW04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72154/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FVW04

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - hail (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - electrical system - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - electrical system - undetermined (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - comm/nav equipment - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - flight/nav instruments,directional gyro - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - instrument light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor)
- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - landing light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not operating (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT ENCOUNTERED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AT 1900. THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE WAS INOP & HE HAD NO COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT. THERE WAS ONLY ONE NAV RECEIVER OPERATIVE, NO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS OR SLAVED DG AVAILABLE. AS IT BECAME DARKER HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE NOTICED THE 10 AMP C/B HAD POPPED. DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT LINCOLN COUNTY ARPT HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE RWY LIGHTS BECAUSE HE HAD NO RADIO TRANSMITTER. SINCE HE HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE LANDING LIGHT. HE MADE THE FIRST APPROACH ATTEMPT FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. HE THEN MADE THE LAST APPROACH ATTEMPT FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH. THE ACFT STRUCK ROLLING TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 1 MI SOUTH OF THE RWY. A LAB EVALUATION OF BOTH VOLTAGE REGULATORS SHOWED THEM TO OPERATE WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S RATED PERFORMANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14168](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14168-1983-06-25), registration cancelled 1983-06-25, S/N 27-4732 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23-4732
- Airframe hours: 3700
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-C4B5 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Vindar Avia.
- Registered owner: Vindar Avia.
- Departed: NOVATO, CA
- Destination: LONGMONT, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 10,635 total, 200 in this make and model, 10,470 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 95 °F

## 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 19820926051049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820926051049A), Sep 26, 1982: Piper PA23250, Panaca, NV, Substantial damage. Pilot reported electrical failure. Tried to land at unlighted airport. Severe winds freezing rain. Impacted a hill.

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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