# NTSB LAX83FA185: Piper PA32-300, N15351, Weaverville, CA, April 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1983, 19:40 local (Apr 9, 1983, 03:40 UTC)
- Place: Weaverville, CA
- Coordinates: 40.739391, -122.929458 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7394&lon=-122.9295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23444/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA185

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN TO A UNI-DIRECTIONAL ARPT WITH AN INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT & A STUDENT PLT/PROSPECTIVE BUYER IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT. THE RWY ELEVATION WAS 2230 FT MSL AT THE SOUTH END & 2350 FT AT THE NORTH END. NORTH OF THE RWY, THE TERRAIN CONTINUED TO RISE & THE APPROACH END OF RWY 18 WAS OBSTRUCTED BY TREES UP TO 100 FT TALL. LANDINGS WERE PROHIBITED ON RWY 18 & ALL NIGHT OPERATIONS WERE PROHIBITED TO TRANSIENT PLTS. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR (ACFT), THE CFI SAID HE WAS AWARE OF THE OBSTRUCTIONS & LIMITATIONS & WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT TOUCH DOWN AT NIGHT APRX 1/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY, THEN BOUNCE. THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW, BUT SEVERAL WITNESSES HEARD WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS APPLICATION OF FULL POWER. DURING A GO-AROUND, THE ACFT HIT THE TOPS OF THE TREES NEAR THE NORTH END OF THE RWY, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS A PILOT & WAS A RESIDENT OF WEAVERVILLE, CA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15351](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15351-2013-04-11), registration cancelled 2013-04-11, S/N 32-7340039, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7340039
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Marion Tanger, doing business as Mr. Aircraft, Incorporated
- Registered owner: Chico Aviation, Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1983, 1 hours before
- Departed: 061, CAMERON PARK, CA
- Destination: 054, WEAVERVILLE, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 054, Lonnie Pool, runway 36, 3,380 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,200 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDD, 32 nm away

## 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 19830408015419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830408015419A), Apr 8, 1983: Piper PA32300, Weaverville, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Landed long at dark night. Porpoised.elected to go around. Struck tall trees off end of runway. One way field.

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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