# NTSB LAX85FA131: Piper PA-28-161, N8345Y, Woodside, CA, February 1, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 1, 1985, 00:00 local (08:00 UTC)
- Place: Woodside, CA
- Coordinates: 37.399208, -122.289421 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3992&lon=-122.2894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24467
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24467/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA131

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT DEPARTED SAN CARLOS FOR A 12 NM X-COUNTRY TO HALF MOON BAY, CA, WITH A RETURN LEG TO SAN CARLOS. IT IS NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE FLT ARRIVED AT HALF MOON BAY. THE ACFT CRASHED IN REMOTE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN APRX 4 NM WEST OF THE WOODSIDE VOR WHICH IS LOCATED SOUTH OF THE SAN CARLOS ARPT. WITNESSES IN THE AREA STATED THAT THE TERRAIN WAS OBSCURED BY LOW CLOUDS AND RAIN ON THE EVENING OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8345Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8116166
- Airframe hours: 1911
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D36 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Golden Gate Piper
- Registered owner: Eric F. Burtis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 15, 1985, 15 hours before
- Departed: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA
- Destination: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 104 total, 5 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark

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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