# NTSB LAX83FA455: Piper PA 28-140, N4297T, Lake Genevieve, CA, September 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1983, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Lake Genevieve, CA
- Location: 39.0187° N, 120.1506° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LAKE TAHOE (TVL), within about 4 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0187&lon=-120.1506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23516
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA455
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23516/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA455

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT WHILE FLYING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT & IT CRASHED. THE PILOT WAS STUDENT PILOT RATED ONLY & HAD NOT BEEN ENDORSED FOR THIS FLIGHT. HE ALSO WAS CARRYING A PASSENGER WHO SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES DURING THE CRASH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4297T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4297T-2012-11-21), registration cancelled 2012-11-21, S/N 28-7225126, built 1971 (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: 28-7225126
- Airframe hours: 2854
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alan P. Radford
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 1983, 49 hours before
- Departed: TVL, LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Destination: STS, SANTA ROSA, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: TVL, Lake Tahoe, runway 36, 8,544 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 15 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAC1, 70 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 19830921050759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830921050759A), Sep 21, 1983: Piper PA28140, Lake Genevieve, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees on rising terrain trying to negotiate a canyon pass. Blamed a downdraft.

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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