# NTSB OAK70AP044: Piper PA-22, N3079Z, Clovis, CA, February 15, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 15, 1970
- Place: Clovis, CA · CLOVIS, CA
- Location: 36.8290° N, 119.6849° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clovis, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8290&lon=-119.6849&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139445
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK70AP044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70AP044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0177  70/2/15    CLOVIS,CALIF        PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1710                    N3079Z              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 10 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SELMA,CALIF                 BISHOP,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 0.12 PCT.NO PREVIOUS ACROBATIC EXP OR TRAINING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3079Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3079Z-1971-01-28), registration cancelled 1971-01-28, S/N 22-7043 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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.

---
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.
