# NTSB FTW76AF031: Piper PA-32, N3704W, Bernice, LA, July 21, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 21, 1975
- Place: Bernice, LA · BERNICE, LA
- Location: 32.8277° N, 92.6585° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bernice, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8277&lon=-92.6585&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 150419
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76AF031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3673  75/7/21  NR.BERNICE,LA         PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 3500
        TIME - 0015                    N3704W              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PENSACOLA,FL                WICHITA FALLS,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          HAZE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 10/13/75. FSS WEA BRIEF ABT 10HRS BFR DEPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3704W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3704W-1976-02-10), registration cancelled 1976-02-10, S/N 32617 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19750721039999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750721039999A), Jul 21, 1975: Piper PA32260, Bernice, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Recovery date 10/13/75. Fss wea brief abt 10HRS bfr dept.

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.