# NTSB LAX88FA176: Piper PA-28-140, N4367J, Guatay, CA, May 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1988, 07:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Guatay, CA
- Location: 32.8489° N, 116.5572° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Guatay, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8489&lon=-116.5572&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25830
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88FA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25830/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88FA176

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTIAN VFR WHILE FLYING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather forecast - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING THE NIGHT PRIOR TO PLANNED FLIGHT FROM LOCAL FSS. THE FSS SPECIALIST INFORMED THE PILOT OF MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS AND FORECAST MODERATE TURBULENCE. THE PLT STATED HE WOULD CHECK THE WEATHER IN THE MORNING. THE NEXT DAY THE PILOT CHECKED WX AGAIN WITH THE FSS. THE SPECIALIST INFORMED THE PILOT HE DID NOT HAVE CURRENT LOCAL WX AND PRECEEDED TO GIVE PILOT 24 HR OUTLOOK. TURBULENCE WAS STILL FORECAST. THE PILOT DID NOT ATTEMPT TO CHECK LOCAL WX CONDITIONS PRIOR TO FLIGHT THREE HRS LATER. WITNESSES OBSERVED ACFT AT 200 FEET AGL IN AND OUT OF RAGGED BOTTOM OF OVERCAST IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. ACFT CRASHED IN LEVEL ATTITUDE NORTH OF COURSE HEADING ABOUT 90 DEG AWAY FROM COURSE AT 4,700 FOOT LEVEL OF A 5,054 FOOT MSL MOUNTAIN PEAK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4367J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4367J-1989-07-17), registration cancelled 1989-07-17, S/N 2822746 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2822746
- Airframe hours: 4538
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E20 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hampshire, Robert J.
- Registered owner: Robert J Hampshire
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 1987, 17 hours before
- Departed: SEE, EL CAJON, CA
- Destination: E14, AVRA VALLEY, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 299 total, 299 in this make and model, 267 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SEE, 26 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 19880507012999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880507012999A), May 7, 1988: Piper PA28140, Guatay, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Continued flight into IMC and struck the side of a cloud obscured mountain. Was observed flying low over a highway.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.