# NTSB OAK74DXQ17: Piper PA-28R, N5146S, Lake Tahoe, CA, December 16, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: December 16, 1973
- Place: Lake Tahoe, CA · LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Location: 38.9282° N, 119.9810° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Lake Tahoe, CA, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9282&lon=-119.9810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 4, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187483
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74DXQ17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DXQ17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3868  73/12/16   LAKE TAHOE,CALIF    PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 273
        TIME - 1305                    N5146S              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 34 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SO.TAHOE VALLEY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAKE TAHOE,CALIF            VAN NUYS,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- DURING TAKE OFF CLIMB PLT ENCOUNTERED SVR DOWNDRAFTS.UN OUTCLIMB TREES.GUSTING TO 30K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5146S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5146S-1974-09-23), registration cancelled 1974-09-23, S/N 28-R7135167, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: So.Tahoe Valley

## 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 19731216040419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731216040419A), Dec 16, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Lake Tahoe, CA, Substantial damage. During take off climb plt encountered svr downdrafts. Un outclimb trees. Gusting to 30K.

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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