Piper PA-28-140 accident near S. Lake Tahoe, CA
On August 5, 2007, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near S. Lake Tahoe, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 5, 2007
- Place
- S. Lake Tahoe, CA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.873°N, 120.003°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070810X01171
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 5, 2007, at 0945 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, N8938C, collided with terrain shortly after takeoff while attempting to return to South Lake Tahoe Airport, South Lake Tahoe, California. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The passenger was seriously injured, the pilot was killed, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. (Unless otherwise noted, all times in this report are Pacific daylight time based on a 24-hours clock.) The Safety Board investigator reviewed radio transmissions from the accident airplane that were recorded by the South Lake Tahoe unicom radio equipment. At 09:41:50 the pilot announced his takeoff and intention to make a left down wind departure from runway 18. At 09:44:56 the pilot made his final radio transmission stating the he was turning left cross wind. A witness reported seeing the airplane in a right hand turn about 20 feet above the tree tops, with a slightly nose low attitude. The airplane then rolled to a level attitude heading in a northerly direction and started to sink with the wings rolling left and right just prior to its collision with trees. Other witnesses also reported hearing the engine at what they described as a high power setting initially, then the engine sound dropped to a lower sounding power setting just before the airplane contacted the trees. Witnesses also described very windy and gusty conditions in the vicinity. The passenger of the accident airplane could
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/decision, and his failure to maintain clearance from trees during takeoff-initial climb. Contributing to the accident were turbulence, downdrafts, and rising terrain.
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Browse: California · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
