# NTSB OAK72FVM20: N.American SNJ-5B, N3437G, Gonzales, CA, December 14, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 14, 1971
- Place: Gonzales, CA · GONZALES, CA
- Location: 36.5052° N, 121.4420° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gonzales, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5052&lon=-121.4420&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK72FVM20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72FVM20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3386  71/12/14   GONZALES,CALIF      N.AMERICAN SNJ-5B   CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 363
        TIME - 1645                    N3437G              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 188 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL MONTE,CALIF              SAN JOSE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 1/1/72. OBS SAW ACFT AT LOW ALT FOLLOWING ROAD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3437G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3437G-1972-02-10), registration cancelled 1972-02-10, S/N 43735 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: N.AMERICAN SNJ-5B
- Registry model: [North American SNJ-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-5b) (registry code 6400419) (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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