# NTSB LAX88FA014: Piper PA-28-181, N47529, Mount Baldy, CA, October 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 11, 1987, 16:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Mount Baldy, CA
- Coordinates: 34.199226, -117.700019 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1992&lon=-117.7000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25781
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25781/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA014

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

BFR TKOF, THE PLT FILED A VFR FLT PLAN & RCVD A WX BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED AN AIRMET. THE AIRMET CONTAINED PRECAUTIONARYINFO ABT INSTRUMENT CONDS (IMC), ICING & MTN OBSCURATION IN CALIF. WHEN THE PLT OPENED HIS FLT PLAN WITH THE FSS, HE WASAGAIN BRIEFED ON THE AIRMET. DRG FLT, THE ACFT IMPACTED STEEP/RISING TRRN ON THE NE SLOPE OF MT HARDWOOD AT AN ELEV OF APRX 8750'. THE PLT HAD PLANNED FOR FLT ALONG PUBLISHED AIRWAYS & FILED TO CRUISE AT 8500' MSL. FOR FLT IN THE VCNTY OF THE ACDNT, HE HAD FILED TO FOLL0W V-394 FM DAGGET TO APLES INTXN (HDG 214 DEG), THEN TO TURN & F0LLOW V-442 TO PARADISE (HDG 192 DEG). HOWEVER, AFTER REACHING APLES INTXN, THE ACFT DID NOT CHANGE COURSE, BUT CONTD IN THE SAME DRCTN (AS IF CONTG ON V-394). ABT 21 MI BYD APLES INTXN, IT CRASHED. FOR INSTRUMENT FLT NR THE CRASH SITE, THE MIN EN ROUTE ALT ON V-394 WAS 11,500'. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY TAKEN FLT TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR AN INSTRUMENT RATING. THE ELT HAD ACTIVATED, BUT AERIAL SEARCH & RESCUE OPNS WERE NOT PSBL ON THE DAY OF THE ACDNT DUE TO IMC WX IN THE MTNS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47529](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47529-1988-09-26), registration cancelled 1988-09-26, S/N 287890087 (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: 287890087
- Airframe hours: 2305
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cal State Flying Club
- Registered owner: Schrieber, Charles H Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 22, 1987, 92 hours before
- Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: LBG, LONG BEACH, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 169 total, 7 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VCV, 30 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 19871011059189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871011059189A), Oct 11, 1987: Piper PA28181, Mount Baldy, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain. Pilot was advised of AIRMET for weather en route and VFR not recommended

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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