# NTSB LAX86FA061: Piper PA-28-201T, N2854R, So. Lake Tahoe, CA, December 9, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 8, 1985, 16:45 local (Dec 9, 1985, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: So. Lake Tahoe, CA
- Location: 38.9282° N, 119.9810° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Lake Tahoe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9282&lon=-119.9810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24886
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24886/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA061

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight briefing service - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON A VFR FLT FROM SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA, TO TRACY, CA, THE PLT FAILED TO OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING OR FILE A FLT PLAN. WX AT THE ARPT OF DEPARTURE WAS REPORTED AS SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 1500 FT, BROKEN CEILING CONDITIONS AT AN ESTIMATED 3000 FT, VISIBILITY 20 MILES, TEMP 30 DEGREES F., DEW POINT 16 DEGREES F., WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING AT THE TIMEOF TAKEOFF. AN ELT SIGNAL WAS RECEIVED BY A SATELLITE AND TRANSPORT ACFT AT APRX 1721 HRS AND WAS REPORTED TO SCOTT AFB ASR CENTER. A CAP ACFT WAS DISPATCHED TO THE REPORTED COORDINATES AND THE ACFT'S WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT ABOUT 1100 HRS ON THE MORNING FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. WX CONDITIONS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE FORECAST TO BE OBSCURED WITH PRECIPITATION DURING THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2854R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2854R-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 28-7921065 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-201T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-201t) (registry code 7102819) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287921065
- Airframe hours: 632
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Freeman L. Northcott, doing business as And Linda C. Northcott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 4, 1986, 16 hours before
- Departed: TVL, S. LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Destination: 1Q4, TRACY, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 103 total, 63 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVL, 10 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 19851208076759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851208076759A), Dec 8, 1985: Piper PA28201T, Southlake Tahoe, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into a cloud obscured mountain shortly after a VFR departure. No record of a weather briefing. No IFR rating.

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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