# NTSB LAX88FA148: Piper PA-31-325, N6ET, Orinda, CA, April 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1988, 19:06 local (Apr 4, 1988, 02:06 UTC)
- Place: Orinda, CA
- Coordinates: 37.890579, -122.189506 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8906&lon=-122.1895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25822
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25822/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA148

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - maneuver - initiated
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BEFORE THE ACDNT, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT CIRCLING IN A VALLEY BENEATH A LOW CLOUD LAYER & BELOW THE SURROUNDING HILLTOPS. THEY ESTIMATED THE CEILING WAS 400' OBSCURED. TWO WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT ENTERED CLOUDS BEFORE IT CRASHED. A 3RD WITNESS, WHO WAS A PLT, SAID THE ACFT WAS AT A VERY LOW ALT WHEN IT APCHD RISING/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN; HE SAID THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A STEEP CLIMBING TURN & STALLED AFTER MAKING 2 COMPLETE TURNS. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE FAA HAD ISSUED THE PLT A SPECIAL 3RD CLASS MED CERT AFTER HE HAD QUINTUPLE HEART BYPASS SURGERY. HE WAS RPRTD TO HAVE GOTTEN 'QUITE ANGRY' BEFORE THE FLT, WHEN 2 PAXS WERE LATE. A PATHOLOGIST BELIEVED THE PLT'S DEATH MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO ARTERIOSCLEROTIC HEART DISEASE; HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT VERIFIED. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUMENT RATING & NO RECORD OF A PREFLT WX BRIEFING WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6ET](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6ET-1990-08-16), registration cancelled 1990-08-16, S/N 317612012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-325
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7612012
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-F2BD 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tanner Construction, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 1987
- Departed: RDD, REDDING, CA
- Destination: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA
- Airport: OAK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,500 total, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft

## 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 19880403007369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880403007369A), Apr 3, 1988: Piper PA31325, Oakland, CA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Observed to lose control and crash while flying below clouds. Had heart disease and failing health prior to flight.

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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