# NTSB OAK70AP048: Piper PA-30, N8720V, Cottonwood, CA, March 23, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 23, 1970
- Place: Cottonwood, CA · COTTONWOOD, CA
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138779
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK70AP048
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70AP048

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0044  70/3/23    COTTONWOOD,CALIF    PIPER PA-30         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1545                    N8720V              PX-  5  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            42, 6273 TOTAL HOURS, 28
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RIVER LAKE RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COTTONWOOD,CALIF            SAN JOSE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        REMARKS- OVER GROSS WT 504 LBS.CG 1.20 INS AFT OF CG LIMIT.EXCEEDED ACFT PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8720V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8720V-1970-06-30), registration cancelled 1970-06-30, S/N 30-1173 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: River Lake Ranch

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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