# NTSB FTW76AF123: Piper PA-32, N3918W, Oak Ridge, LA, September 18, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 18, 1976
- Place: Oak Ridge, LA · OAK RIDGE, LA
- Location: 32.6244° N, 91.7731° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oak Ridge, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6244&lon=-91.7731&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 11, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155676
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76AF123
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF123

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3104  76/9/18    OAK RIDGE,LA        PIPER PA-32         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 60, 663
        TIME - 2359                    N3918W              PX-  2  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OAK RIDGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BATON ROUGE,LA              OAK RIDGE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - WEATHER PERSONNEL: INCORRECT WEATHER FORECAST
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       68
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           NONE
        REMARKS- HIT TREE 1/4 MI TO L & ABT 3000FT DWN RWY DRG GO ARND DUE FOG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3918W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3918W-1976-10-14), registration cancelled 1976-10-14, S/N 32-922 (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
- Airport: Oak Ridge

## 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 19760918033629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760918033629A), Sep 18, 1976: Piper PA32260, Oak Ridge, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Hit tree 1/4 mi to l & abt 3000FT dwn rwy drg go arnd due fog.

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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