# NTSB LAX84FA367: Piper PA-28-181, N3070G, Weaverville, CA, June 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1984, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Weaverville, CA
- Coordinates: 40.740486, -122.929939 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7405&lon=-122.9299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA367
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23968/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA367

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHEN THE PLT FILED A VFR FLT PLAN, HE STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT THE ARPT AT WEAVERVILLE, CA, WAS A ONE WAY STRIP & THAT HE HAD A GUIDE BOOK WHICH SHOWED THIS INFO. PUBLISHED PROCEDURES CALLED FOR ACFT TO 'LAND ON RWY 36, TAKE-OFF RWY 18.' A CAUTION NOTE STATED, 'DUE HIGH TERRAIN SURROUNDING FIELD AND STEEP RWY GRADIENT (3.5%), IF GO-AROUND NECESSARY, START EARLY WHILE STILL HIGH. TREES AT N END ARE 175' HIGHER THAN RWY 36 THRESHOLD! NO GO-AROUND AFTER TOUCH DOWN. NO TOUCH-AND-GO.' DURING ARRIVAL, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO DESCEND TO ABOUT 15 TO 20 FT AGL WITH APRX 2500 FT OF RWY REMAINING WHEN THE PLT INITIATED A GO-AROUND.SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES NORTH OF THE ARPT, CRASHED & BURNED. THE PLT SAID THAT ON FINAL APCH, HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENT AIR & BELIEVED HE WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO GO AROUND; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO OUT CLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN. THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 4450 FT. WITNESSES REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 180 DEG AT 4 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3070G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7990198
- Airframe hours: 2174
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Navajo Aviation
- Registered owner: Dennis L. & Jane Honey Prows
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 1984, 75 hours before
- Departed: 086, TRINITY CENTER, CA
- Destination: RDD, REDDING, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 054, Lonnie Pool Field, runway 36, 3,380 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 103 total, 103 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °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 19840626026719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840626026719A), Jun 26, 1984: Piper PA28181, Weaverville, CA, Destroyed. Struck trees on rising terrain trying to make a go around on a one way strip. Warning for late go arounds on chart.

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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