# NTSB LAX83LA405: Piper PA-20-150, N3SJ, Auburn, CA, August 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1983, 10:54 local (17:54 UTC)
- Place: Auburn, CA
- Coordinates: 38.920886, -121.069931 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9209&lon=-121.0699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA405
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23831/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA405

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY INTO A DITCH. WIND WAS GUSTING 15 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3SJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-596
- Airframe hours: 1424
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bill Barnett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1983, 20 hours before
- Airport: AUN, Auburn Municipal, runway 25, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 473 total, 186 in this make and model, 415 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19830823048689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830823048689A), Aug 23, 1983: Piper PA20, Auburn, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped during cross wind 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.

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