# NTSB LAX84FA277: Piper PA-23-250, N63813, Ukiah, CA, May 1, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 1, 1984, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Ukiah, CA
- Coordinates: 38.680126, -121.339302 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6801&lon=-121.3393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23953
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA277
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23953/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA277

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A LOC/DME RWY 15 APCH TO THE UKIAH ARPT. AT 1307 PDT, HE BEGAN THE APCH AT THE TUCCI INTERSECTION, 15.5 MI NORTH OF THE RWY. AT 1311:04 THE LAST RADAR CONTACT SHOWED THAT THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 5 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT. AT 1313, THE UKIAH FSS PERSONNEL REQUESTED THE ACFT'S POSITION & THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS 5.5 MI ON THE DME (5.5 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT). THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE ACFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED ON RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ABOUT 4 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT AT AN ELEVATION OF 200 FT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DME WAS SELECTED TO THE #2 NAV RECEIVER WHICH WAS TUNED TO THE UKIAH VOR, LOCATED ABOUT 6 MI SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE ARPT. FOR THE APCH, THE DME SHOULD HAVE BEEN SELECTED ON THE #1 NAV RECEIVER WHICH WAS TUNED TO THE LOC/DME AT THE ARPT. THE 1324 WX AT UKIAH WAS 1000 FT OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1 1/2 MI WITH LIGHT RAIN & FOG, WIND 130 DEG AT 8 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63813](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63813-1984-05-01), registration cancelled 1984-05-01, S/N 27-7754137, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-7754137
- Airframe hours: 418
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-C1A 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walter F. Burke
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 1984, 8 hours before
- Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA
- Destination: UKI, UKIAH, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: UKI, Ukiah, runway 15, 5,005 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: UKI, 4 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 19840501014969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840501014969A), May 1, 1984: Piper PA23250, Ukiah, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft crashed during IMC after missed loc/dme approach.

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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