# NTSB LAX87FA103: Piper PA-28-181, N75178, Gualala, CA, February 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 1, 1987, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Gualala, CA
- Coordinates: 38.819137, -123.510139 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8191&lon=-123.5101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25377
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25377/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA103

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT, FLYING HIS OWN ACFT, TOOK OFF UNDER VFR CONDITIONS FOR AN INTENDED 45 MIN SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX & ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ENTER CLOUDS, TURN LEFT & COLLIDE WITH TREES ON UPSLOPING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE STUDENT PLT'S CERTIFICATE WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR SOLO OR SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLYING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75178](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75178-1989-09-13), registration cancelled 1989-09-13, S/N 287690307 (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: 28-7690307
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John W. & Virginia M. Burton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 1986
- Departed: Q69, GUALALA, CA
- Destination: CA35, SAN RAFAEL, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 465 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 36 °F

## 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 19870201001859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870201001859A), Feb 1, 1987: Piper PA28181, Gualala, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Collided with trees on upslope side of a hill. Had pulled up to miss a house. Tree tops obscured and fog in area.

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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