# NTSB LAX78FA021: Piper PA-32, N3350W, Kernville, CA, January 16, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 16, 1978
- Place: Kernville, CA · KERNVILLE, CA
- Location: 35.7550° N, 118.4309° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kernville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7550&lon=-118.4309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143410
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1474  78/1/16  NR.KERNVILLE,CA       PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 965
        TIME - 0910                    N3350W              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          INYOKERN,CA                 FRESNO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                          RAIN, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     229
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           34                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 1/18/78.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3350W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3350W-1981-10-13), registration cancelled 1981-10-13, S/N 32-192 (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 19780116017569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780116017569A), Jan 16, 1978: Piper PA32260, Kernville, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Recovery date 1/18/78.

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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