# NTSB LAX89FA189: Piper PA-28-181, N8078V, Dublin, CA, May 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 8, 1989, 18:05 local (May 9, 1989, 01:05 UTC)
- Place: Dublin, CA
- Coordinates: 37.70972, -121.91027 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7097&lon=-121.9103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26227
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26227/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA189

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DECIDED TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT AFTER ENCOUNTERING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN AN AREA OF RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOTS LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THIS CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE WEATHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE ESTABLISHED THAT COASTAL STRATUS CLOUDS WITH ACCOMPANYING COASTAL HILL MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT WAS FORECAST. ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL WEATHER REPORTS AND WITNESS OBSERVATIONS, THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS OBSCURED IN CLOUDS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE ACCIDENT SITE IS AT THE END OF A LONG NARROW VALLEY NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGE LINE. AT DEPARTURE FROM HAYWARD, THE PILOT ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR A STRAIGHT OUT DEPARTURE, WHICH THE LOCAL CONTROLLER DENIED DUE TO A NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURE. THE PILOT THEN ACCEPTED A RIGHT CROSS WIND DEPARTURE. THE ENTERANCE TO THE NARROW VALLEY IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A RIGHT CROSS WIND DEPARTURE PATH. AT THE TIME OF THE AIRCRAFT'S DEPARTURE, THE AIRPORT WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CEILING 1,000 FEET, VISIBILITY 10 MILES. SIX MINUTES AFTER THE FLIGHT DEPARTED, THE AIRPORT WENT IFR WITH A 900 FOOT CEILING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8078V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8078V-1991-02-12), registration cancelled 1991-02-12, S/N 288090074 (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: 28-8090074
- Airframe hours: 3363
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Capitol Sky Park, Inc.
- Registered owner: Bruce M. Douglass
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 25, 1989, 22 hours before
- Departed: HWD, HAYWARD, CA
- Destination: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 142 total, 31 in this make and model, 103 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HWD, 8 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 19890509011199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890509011199A), May 9, 1989: Piper PA28181, Dublin, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into side of a cloud obscured ridge. No record weather briefing.

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.