# NTSB OAK72AP013: Piper PA-28, N9412W, Benicia, CA, October 30, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 30, 1971
- Place: Benicia, CA · BENICIA, CA
- Location: 38.0727° N, 122.1552° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Benicia, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0727&lon=-122.1552&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 9, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163547
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK72AP013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72AP013

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1997  71/10/30   BENICIA,CALIF       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 266
        TIME - 1928                    N9412W              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 7 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          CLEAR LAKE,CALIF            MODESTO,CALIF                NAPA,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           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
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT FLEW INTO KNOWN INST COND. HAD BEEN LOST ON PREVIOUS LEG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9412W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9412W-1972-01-14), registration cancelled 1972-01-14, S/N 28-11119 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (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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