# NTSB LAX86FA079: Piper PA-28-181, N4318V, El Cajon, CA, January 3, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1986, 18:00 local (Jan 3, 1986, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: El Cajon, CA
- Coordinates: 32.789733, -116.95906 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7897&lon=-116.9591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24891/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA079

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL AT AN ARPT NEAR HIS HOME, THE PLT CONTACTED APCH CONTROL (CTL) & ASKED THE CTLR FOR ASSISTANCE IN LANDING & SAID THAT THE WX LOOKED A LITTLE FOGGY. THE CTLR INFORMED THE PLT OF THE ACFT'S POSITION IN RELATION TO THE ARPT. AS THE ACFT WAS DSCNDG TWD THE ARPT, THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE HAD ENTERED FOG AT ABOUT 4000' MSL. THE CTLR INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO CLIMB & MAINTAIN VFR, THEN ASKED IF THE PLT WOULD LIKE A LOCALIZER D APCH TO THE ARPT. ALTHO HE WAS NOT CERTIFIED FORINSTRUMENT FLT, THE PLT ACCEPTED THE APCH. THE ARPT WX AT THAT TIME WAS RPRTD (IN PART) AS: 1500' SCATTERED, VIS 7 MI. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED FOR THE APCH. AS THE ACFT WAS APCHG THE OUTER MARKER, THE PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO CHANGE TO TOWER FREQ. HE ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT THERE WAS NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE ACFT & RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED APRX 5 MI EAST OF THE ARPT, ON A HDG OF 050 DEG, IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE 1746 PST SAN DIEGO WX WAS, IN PART: 2000' BROKEN, VIS 5 MI WITH HAZE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4318V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4318V-2014-12-02), registration cancelled 2014-12-02, S/N 28-8490013, built 1983 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8490013
- Airframe hours: 723
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Golden State Aviation
- Registered owner: Stuart J. Oster
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 15, 1985, 83 hours before
- Departed: PGA, PAGE, AZ
- Destination: SEE, EL CAJON, CA
- Airport: SEE, Gillespie Field, runway 27R, 5,341 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SEE, 5 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 19860102000069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860102000069A), Jan 2, 1986: Piper PA28181, El Cajon, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft impacted ground during night approach in low fog. VFR pilot. Medical restriction prohibited night flying.

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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