# NTSB LAX83FA414: Piper PA-28-140, N5468T, Tahoe City, CA, December 8, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 7, 1982, 17:00 local (Dec 8, 1982, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Tahoe City, CA
- Location: 39.1721° N, 120.1388° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tahoe City, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1721&lon=-120.1388&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72782
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA414
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72782/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA414

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE OWNER, A STUDENT PLT, & AN ATP PLT DEPARTED OLYMPIA, WA AT APRX 1111 PST ON A FLT TO THE LAKE TAHOE/RENO AREA. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS MADE UNTIL 12/22/82. ON 8/28/83, THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT CRASHED ON RISING TERRAIN (50 DEG SLOPE) AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 7600 FT (ABOUT 600 FT BLO THE TOP OF THE MTN). IT IMPACTED IN A CLEARING SURROUNDED BY PINE TREES & CAME TO REST INVERTED WITH THE LEFT WING PARTIALLY SEPARATED, REARWARD. A MEMBER OF THE SEARCH TEAM REMEMBERED SNOW, 13 TO 25 FT DEEP, IN THAT AREA & RECALLED THE "THE WX WAS MARGINAL THAT WHOLE WEEK." AN NTSB WX SUMMARY REPORTED A PROBABLE OVERCAST WITH BASES AT APRX 8000 FT MSL; VIS 3+ BLO THE CLDS, BUT IN THE CLDS, ZERO VIS & MOD ICG FROM 5000 TO 13000 FT MSL; BLO 10000 FT MSL, MOD TURBC & UP/DOWNDRAFTS. THE ENG HAD EXTENSIVE IMPACT DMG, BUT LITTLE OR NO DMG WAS FOUND ON THE PROP SPINNER OR LEADING EDGE OF THE PROP BLADES. THE THROTTLE, MIXTURE & CARB HEATWERE FOUND FULL OPEN, RICH & ON, RESPECTIVELY. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE INVERTED FUEL TANKS. FLAP SYS FOUND IN UP PSN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5468T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5468T-2012-09-21), registration cancelled 2012-09-21, S/N 28-7225414, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7225414
- Airframe hours: 1506
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: S. O. Haller
- Registered owner: S. O. Haller
- Departed: OLM, OLYMPIA, WA
- Destination: TVL, LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Airport: TVL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Temperature: 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NTSB

## 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 19821207063729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821207063729A), Dec 7, 1982: Piper PA28140, Tahoe City, CA, Destroyed. Crashed into the side of a cloud obscured mountain. Extreme turbulence existed. No weather briefing.

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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