# NTSB OAK73AP002: Piper PA-28, N4278T, Gualala, CA, July 16, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 16, 1972
- Place: Gualala, CA · GUALALA, CA
- Location: 38.8428° N, 123.6201° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gualala, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8428&lon=-123.6201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 9, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73AP002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73AP002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1055  72/7/16    GUALALA,CALIF       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 150
        TIME - 1920                    N4278T              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 85 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OCEAN RIDGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GUALALA,CALIF               SANTA ROSA,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIRAL                                            IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       65
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- OBS SAW ACFT ENTER 200 FT OCST.AFTER T/O. CRASHED 3 MINS LATER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4278T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4278T-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 287225116, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ocean Ridge

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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