# NTSB LAX83FA276: Piper PA-28-181, N8318T, El Cajon, CA, June 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1983, 14:53 local (21:53 UTC)
- Place: El Cajon, CA
- Coordinates: 32.789993, -116.959625 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7900&lon=-116.9596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23462
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA276
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23462/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA276

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS FIRST WX BRIEFED AT 0916 FOR A FLT TO CATALINA ISLAND & ON TO SAN JOSE. VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. SUBSEQUENTLY THE PLT CALLED FSS FOUR MORE TIMES, THE FINAL CALL AT 1402 DURING WHICH HE REQUESTED & RECEIVED THE WX FOR MONTGOMERY & GILLESPIE ARPT. BOTH WERE STILL BELOW VFR. AT 1443 THE PLT CONTACTED THE TOWER & RECEIVED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE & THE ACFT DEPARTED AT 1449. ABOUT 2 MIN LATER THE PLT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WAS IN NAS MIRAMAR'S AIRSPACE, AT WHICH TIME HE STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN ABOUT 10 FT BELOW THE NORTH PEAK OF FORTUNA MOUNTAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8318T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8318T-1984-06-15), registration cancelled 1984-06-15, S/N 28-8190132 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8190132
- Airframe hours: 2011
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: S G Flight Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Edward A. Carcot
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 1983, 38 hours before
- Departed: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Airport: MYF, Montgomery, runway 28, 3,399 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 321 total, 73 in this make and model, 274 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MYF, 5 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 19830608023489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830608023489A), Jun 8, 1983: Piper PA28181, El Cajon, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot had received special VFR clearence out of control zone. During attempt to return aircraft hit mountain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.