# NTSB OAK73AP037: Piper PA-28, N5171S, Ukiah, CA, April 20, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 20, 1973
- Place: Ukiah, CA · UKIAH, CA
- Location: 39.1448° N, 123.2123° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ukiah, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1448&lon=-123.2123&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170599
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73AP037
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73AP037

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0840  73/4/20    UKIAH,CALIF         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 146
        TIME - 2150                    N5171S              PX-  2  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 88 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - UKIAH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA ROSA,CALIF            UKIAH,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - OTHER
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      51
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          320                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- DARK NITE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5171S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5171S-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 287105025 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ukiah

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730420011589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730420011589A), Apr 20, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Ukiah, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Dark nite.

## Other investigations on N5171S (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 OAK72DVG60](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVG60), May 14, 1972: Piper PA-28 (N5171S), Ruth, CA, substantial damage

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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