# NTSB LAX87FA196: Piper PA-28-181, N8444A, Newhall, CA, April 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1987, 17:30 local (Apr 30, 1987, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Newhall, CA
- Coordinates: 34.360233, -118.469123 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3602&lon=-118.4691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25398
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25398/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA196

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AT ABOUT 1440 PDT, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT DEPD ANTIOCH CA, ON A FLT TO BURBANK, CA. NO KNOWN IN-FLT COMMUNICATIONSWERE MADE UNTIL THE PLT CONTACTED TRACON AT 1725 PDT. AT THAT TIME, HE RPRTD INBOUND AT 7500' & REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR CLNC TO THE ARPT. HE WAS TOLD TO MAINT VFR & WAS ADZD THE WX AT BURBANK (ELEV 775') WAS 700' OVERCAST WITH 1 MI VIS, FOG & LGT DRIZZLE. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, COMMUNICATION WITH THE ACFT WAS LOST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ON A RIDGELINE APRX 9 MI NNW OF THE BURBANK ARPT. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A SHALLOW, WINGS LEVEL DESCENT AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 2600'. NO PREIMPACT PART MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS EVIDENT. NO RECORD WAS FOUND OF A PRE-FLT WX BRIEFING. MTNS TOPS IN THE AREA WERE FORECAST TO BE OBSCURED; CLOUD TOPS WERE RPRTD AT 4500'. TRACES OF MEDICATION (METABOLITES OF CHLORPHENIRAMINE & BENZODIAZIPINE) WERE DETECTED ONLY IN THE PLT'S URINE; TOXICOLOGY TESTS OF HIS BLOOD WERE NEGATIVEFOR ALCOHOL & DRUGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8444A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8444A-2003-09-04), registration cancelled 2003-09-04, S/N 28-8290023, built 1981 (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 0-350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-350-series) (registry code 41512, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8290023
- Airframe hours: 1542
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: E. M. Briggs, Md.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 1986, 195 hours before
- Departed: 012, ANTIOCH, CA
- Destination: BUR, BURBANK, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 910 total, 910 in this make and model, 895 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUR, 11 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 19870429012549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870429012549A), Apr 29, 1987: Piper PA28181, Newhall, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Proceeded into IMC, lost control and crashed on a mountain ridge. Not IFR rated and no weather briefing reported.

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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