# NTSB LAX84FA422: Piper PA-23-250, N14266, Honeydew, CA, July 31, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1984, 09:49 local (16:49 UTC)
- Place: Honeydew, CA
- Coordinates: 40.249897, -124.130409 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2499&lon=-124.1304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23985
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA422
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23985/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA422

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

FLT 101, A DOMESTIC CARGO OPERATION CRASHED AT ABOUT 2400 MSL IN A STEEP FORESTED MOUNTAIN VALLEY. THE ACFT & ITS CARGO,CONSISTING OF BANK DOCUMENTS & PHOTOGRAPHS, WERE DESTROYED. THE PLT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES & NO SUITABLE SPECIMENS WERE AVAILABLE FOR TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N14266 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-4827
- Airframe hours: 5945
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: California Air Charter, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 10, 1984, 38 hours before
- Departed: UKI, UKIAHND, CA
- Destination: EKA, EUREKA, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 28,560 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 25,500 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ACV, 40 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 19840731075929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840731075929A), Jul 31, 1984: Piper PA23250, Honeydew, CA, Destroyed. Witnesses saw aircraft fly through fog or small cloud into box valley. Tried wingover to get out, hit ridge spur.

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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