# NTSB OAK70AP036: Piper PA-28, N7960W, Trinity Ctr, CA, January 9, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 9, 1970
- Place: Trinity Ctr, CA · TRINITY CTR, CA
- Location: 40.9841° N, 122.7083° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Trinity Center, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9841&lon=-122.7083&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138165
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK70AP036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70AP036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1255   70/1/9    TRINITY CTR,CALIF   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 748
        TIME - 1200                    N7960W              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 743 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRINITY CENTER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MEDFORD,OREG                NAPA,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     SLEET
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 5/19/70.PLT ADVSD RED BLUFF RDO,ENTERING CLDS 8500FT,ENCTRG SLT STM,6000FT ICED UP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7960W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7960W-1971-01-04), registration cancelled 1971-01-04, S/N 28-2009, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Trinity Center

## Other investigations on N7960W (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA67D0257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA67D0257), Feb 10, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N7960W), Arlington, OR, substantial damage

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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