# NTSB LAX83LA343: Piper PA-28, N8059W, Auburn, CA, July 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1983, 15:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Auburn, CA
- Coordinates: 38.919624, -121.07032 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9196&lon=-121.0703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23791
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA343
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23791/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA343

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT MAKE TWO APPROACHES TO RWY 25. DURING THE SECOND APPROACH THE ACFT GOT CLOSE TO THE RWY AND DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT. POWER WAS APPLIED AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 30 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8059W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8059W-1984-05-26), registration cancelled 1984-05-26, S/N 28-2136 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2136
- Airframe hours: 1704
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth R. Duff
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1983, 61 hours before
- Departed: MFR, MEDFORD, OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: AUN, Auburn, runway 25, 3,100 × 60 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 129 total, 24 in this make and model, 69 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19830716033149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830716033149A), Jul 16, 1983: Piper PA28180, Auburn, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft hit tree and crashed on final approach for landing.

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.
