# NTSB LAX84IA353: Piper PA-32-300, N32139, Chowchilla, CA, June 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 14, 1984, 21:40 local (Jun 15, 1984, 04:40 UTC)
- Place: Chowchilla, CA
- Coordinates: 37.070171, -120.269668 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0702&lon=-120.2697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24046
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84IA353
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24046/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84IA353

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - aircraft handling - uncontrolled, pilot in command
  - incapacitation(other organic problem), pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - approach light/navaid (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH VASI LIGHTS DURING AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING WHEN PLT BECAME ILL & ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGERS BECAME UNCONSCIOUS. THE PASSENGER, A NON-PLT, LANDED THE ACFT. THE PLT WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULENCE TO A NEARBY HOSPITALWHERE DOCTORS STATED THAT HE WAS SUFFERING FROM ACUTE EMPHYSEMA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32139](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32139), registered now, S/N 32-7540017, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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: 32-7540017
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wayne Doerr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 308, COALINGA, CA
- Airport: 206, Chowchilla, runway 30, 3,250 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 710 total, 710 in this make and model, 447 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MER, 43 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).

- [Incident 19840614067039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840614067039I), Jun 14, 1984: Piper PA32300, Chowchilla, CA, Minor damage. Pilot became ill, landed short of runway, bounced striking electrical box associated with VASI.

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.