# NTSB LAX83LA094: Piper PA-32, N4069R, So. Lake Tahoe, CA, February 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1983, 14:08 local (22:08 UTC)
- Place: So. Lake Tahoe, CA
- Location: 38.8939° N, 119.9953° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKE TAHOE (TVL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8939&lon=-119.9953&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA094
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23611/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA094

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED DOWNWIND ON RUNWAY 36, WHICH WAS 8544 FT LONG AND WAS WET. THE FIELD ELEVATION WAS 6264 FT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED BY TOWER PERSONNEL TO ROTATE ABOUT 3000 FT DOWN THE RUNWAY, THEN CLIMB TO ABOUT 50 FT AGL. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT CLIMBING WELL. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE WITH APPROXIMATELY 2000 FT OF RUNWAY REMAINING, BUT THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN THE REMAINING DISTANCE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A SNOWBANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4069R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4069R-1990-07-18), registration cancelled 1990-07-18, S/N 3240378 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 40378
- Airframe hours: 3249
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald S. Goldberg
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 1982, 55 hours before
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TVL, South Lake Tahoe, runway 36, 8,544 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,358 total, 1,210 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 32.00 inHg

## 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 19830207005199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830207005199A), Feb 7, 1983: Piper PA32300, South Lake Taho, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted downwind takeoff and then aborted, aircraft went off end of runway and crashed into snowbank.

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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