# NTSB SEA88FA031: Piper PA-32R-300, N400LA, Lakeport, CA, December 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1987, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Lakeport, CA
- Coordinates: 39.040748, -122.929336 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0407&lon=-122.9293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40712/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA031

## 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 - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ALTHOUGH WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE MARGINALLY VFR AT HIS DEPARTURE POINT, AND THE PILOT HAD ACCESS TO A VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO DRIVE TO HIS DEST, HE DEPARTED NOVATO, CA, ENROUTE TO LAKEPORT, CA, WITHOUT OBTAINING A WX BRIEFING NOR FILING A FLT PLAN. SHORTLY AFT DEPARTURE AND AGAIN NEARING HIS DEST HE RECEIVED INFLT WX INFO FM UKIAH FSS AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE REPORTED BAD WX IN THE VIC OF HIS ROUTE OF FLT. A WITNESS NEAR THE ACCD SITE REPORTED SNOW, STRONG WINDS, LOW CEILINGS, AND WORSENING CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCD. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SHALLOW RIDGE IN LOW MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE IN AN UPRIGHT, SLIGHTLY DESCENDING RIGHT WING DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ELEVATION OF THE GROUND IMPACT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2450 FEET AND THE CLOUD BASES WERE REPORTED AT UKIAH AS APPROXIMATELY 2600 FEET MSL NEAR THE TIME OF THE ACCD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N400LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400LA-1989-08-16), registration cancelled 1989-08-16, S/N 32R7780507 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R7780507
- Airframe hours: 2781
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Gilbert D. Evans
- Registered owner: Gilbert D Evans
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1987, 81 hours before
- Departed: O56, NOVATO, CA
- Destination: 1O2, LAKEPORT, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19871215070329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871215070329A), Dec 15, 1987: Piper PA32R300, Lakeport, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Continued flight into rolling hills with tops obscured. Impacted near crest of a hill. Pilot was scud running.

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.