# NTSB LAX85LA380: Piper PA-28-161, N421GS, Julian, CA, September 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1985, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Julian, CA
- Coordinates: 33.020378, -116.489685 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0204&lon=-116.4897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA380
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA380

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - night
  - weather evaluation - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN ON A LOCAL FLT. THE PAX INDICATED THAT THE PLT WAS FLYING BELOW THE CLOUDS AND CAME TOO CLOSE TO THE MTN TO AVOID THE COLLISION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N421GS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7816245
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alladin Aviation
- Registered owner: John W. Bradford, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: SEE, EL CAJON, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SEE, 23 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 19850904043269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850904043269A), Sep 4, 1985: Piper PA28161, Julian, CA, Substantial damage. Student picked up passengers and flew into mountain while avoiding clouds. Was supposed to remain in pattern.

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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