# NTSB LAX84LA098: Piper PA-28-181, N4513K, Livermore, CA, December 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 1983, 09:12 local (17:12 UTC)
- Place: Livermore, CA
- Location: 37.6933° N, 121.6923° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LIVERMORE MUNI (LVK), within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6933&lon=-121.6923&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24115
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24115/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA098

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL IN IFR CONDITIONS, THE PLT WAS VECTORED FOR AN ILS RWY 25 APCH. AT ABOUT 0909 PST, HE WAS CLEARED FOR THE APCH & INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL INTERCEPTING THE LOCALIZER. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO CONTACT THE TOWER. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE CONTROLLER NOTED THAT THE ACFT'S TRANSPONDER REPLY WAS INDICATING ABOUT 1700 FT, APRX 1100 FT BELOW THE MIN ALTITUDE AT THAT POSITION. THE CONTROLLER IMMEDIATELY QUERIED THE PLT CONCERNING HIS ALTITUDE, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES & CRASHED. HE STATED THAT HE BELIEVED HE HAD BEEN CLEARED TO 2000 FT, THEN AFTER INTERCEPTING THE LOCALIZER, HE 'BEGAN TO DESCEND TO THE GLIDE SLOPE.' AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1525 FT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED NEAR THE OUTER MARKER. THE MIN ALTITUDE AT THE OUTER MARKER WAS 2409 FT. NO PREIMPACT, SYS MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4513K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4513K-1984-02-09), registration cancelled 1984-02-09, S/N 28-8090039, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8090039
- Airframe hours: 2600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: S & G Flight Svc., Inc.
- Registered owner: Mutnick, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1983, 3 hours before
- Departed: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LVK, Livermore, runway 25, 4,005 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 284 total, 21 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVK, 6 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 19831217064119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831217064119A), Dec 17, 1983: Piper PA28181, Livermore, CA, Destroyed. Failed to maintain proper altitude on ILS approach. Struck wires at 1500 feet AGL. Glide slope intercept 2800 feet.

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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