# NTSB OAK72DVA33: Piper PA-28, N8537N, Chouchilla, CA, October 3, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 3, 1971
- Place: Chouchilla, CA · CHOUCHILLA, CA
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 18, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK72DVA33
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVA33

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2173   71/10/3 NR.CHOUCHILLA,CALIF   PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 233
        TIME - 1800                    N8537N              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 69 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PRIVATE STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FRESNO,CALIF               CHOUCHILLA,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
        REMARKS- HIT METAL STAKES DURG LDG ON PVT STRIP UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8537N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8537N-2003-12-12), registration cancelled 2003-12-12, S/N 28-11336, built 1969 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Private Strip

## Other investigations on N8537N (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 DEN99FA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99FA012), Oct 19, 1998: Piper PA-28-235 (N8537N), Buffalo, WY, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot's initiated flight into adverse weather conditions and inadvertently flew into IMC weather conditions. Factors were the low ceiling weather conditions, the dark night…

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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