# NTSB LAX76FVA77: Piper PA-32, N3964W, Bakersfield, CA, July 15, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 15, 1976
- Place: Bakersfield, CA · BAKERSFIELD, CA
- Location: 35.3733° N, 119.0187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bakersfield, CA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3733&lon=-119.0187&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 16, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76FVA77
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76FVA77

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1705  76/7/15  NR.BAKERSFIELD,CA     PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 379
        TIME - 2345                    N3964W              PX-  0  1  4  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 54 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BAKERSFLD AIRPARK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BAKERSFIELD,CA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3964W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3964W-1976-09-02), registration cancelled 1976-09-02, S/N 32-876 (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Bakersfld Airpark

## 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 19760715021209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760715021209A), Jul 15, 1976: Piper PA32260, Bakersfield, CA, Destroyed

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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