# NTSB OAK71AP047: Piper PA-24, N6773P, Nice, CA, May 27, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 27, 1971
- Place: Nice, CA · NICE, CA
- Location: 39.1262° N, 122.8553° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nice, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1262&lon=-122.8553&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 161067
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK71AP047
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK71AP047

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0953  71/5/27    NICE,CALIF          PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 162
        TIME - 1800                    N6773P              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 26 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RICHLAND,WASH               NAPA,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: WINGTIPS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- LAST RADIO CONTACT,11500FT,ON TOP.BOTH WING TIPS SEPD,NEVER FOUND.STAB DEFORMED DWNWRD ABT 10DEG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6773P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6773P-1971-08-24), registration cancelled 1971-08-24, S/N 24-1904 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (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.

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