# NTSB LAX74AL024: Piper PA-22, N3116Z, Grover City, CA, September 29, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 29, 1973
- Place: Grover City, CA · GROVER CITY, CA
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188515
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL024

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2858  73/9/29    GROVER CITY,CALIF   PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 133
        TIME - 0600                    N3116Z              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 68 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OCEANO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OCEANO,CALIF                BISHOP,CALIF
        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 - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       49
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          250                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- OBS STATED HEAVY FOG IN AREA. ACFT HIT TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3116Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3116Z-1973-12-11), registration cancelled 1973-12-11, S/N 22-7061, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Oceano

## 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 19730929034249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730929034249A), Sep 29, 1973: Piper PA22, Grover City, CA, Destroyed. OBS stated heavy fog in area. Acft hit trees.

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.