# NTSB LAX83FA390: Piper PA-28-181, N5698V, Santa Rosa, CA, August 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1983, 05:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place: Santa Rosa, CA
- Location: 38.5097° N, 122.8129° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHARLES M SCHULZ/SONOMA COUNTY (STS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5097&lon=-122.8129&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23492
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA390
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23492/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA390

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff
  - control tower service - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dawn (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT & A PASSENGER TOOK OFF FROM THE ARPT AT DAWN BEFORE THE CONTROL TOWER WAS IN OPERATION. THE TAKEOFF WAS AT 0549 PDT IN IMC CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ACFT CRASHED. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ACFT TAKEOFF 'ON 19', THEN HEARD THE ENG LIKE IT WAS IN A DIVE. ANOTHER WITNESS HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER HIS HOUSE, THEN TURN AROUND & FLY BACK OVER HIS HOUSE & CRASH. HE STATED THE WX WAS FOGGY, BUT HE COULD SEE RUNWAY LIGHTS ABOUT 400 TO 500 YARDS AWAY. AT 0620 PDT, TOWER PERSONNEL OBSERVED THE WX WAS: 200 FT INDEFINITE CEILING, VISIBILITY 1/2 MI WITH FOG, TEMP 57, DEW POINT 55, WIND CALM. DURING IMPACT, THE ACFT WAS DEMOLISHED & THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN OVER A PATH 345 FT LONG. A PIECE OF RED LENS WAS FOUND NEAR THE 1ST IMPACT POINT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A PREFLT WX BRIEFING OR COMMUNICATION WITH ANY RADIO FACILITY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5698V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5698V-1984-04-13), registration cancelled 1984-04-13, S/N 28-7790499 (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: 28-7790499
- Airframe hours: 1858
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard P. Jiminez
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 1982, 117 hours before
- Destination: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Airport: STS, Sonoma Co.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 152 total, 99 in this make and model, 110 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STS

## 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 19830817041789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830817041789A), Aug 17, 1983: Piper PA28181, Santa Rosa, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR pilot departed in near zero fog. Was cleared to turn back on climbout and crashed on airport.

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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