# NTSB OAK74DVA30: Piper PA-24, N5521P, Merced, CA, October 31, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 31, 1973
- Place: Merced, CA · MERCED, CA
- Location: 37.3114° N, 120.4704° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merced, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3114&lon=-120.4704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 6, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188328
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74DVA30
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVA30

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3129  73/10/31   MERCED,CALIF        PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 500
        TIME - 1255                    N5521P              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 250 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MERCED MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MERCED,CALIF                SAN JOSE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO EXTEND LANDING GEAR
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CHECKLIST-FAILED TO USE
           SYSTEMS - OTHER SYSTEMS: PITOT SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN MATERIAL AFFECTING NORMAL OPERATIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OBSTRUCTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- PILOT TUBE BLOCKED WITH INSECTS. CAUSED ERRONEOUS A/S & VSI READINGS. PLT PREOCCUPIED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5521P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5521P), registered now, S/N 24-584, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (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: Merced Muni

## 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 19731031035359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731031035359A), Oct 31, 1973: Piper PA24250, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot tube blocked with insects. Caused erroneous a/s & VSI readings. Plt preoccupied.

## Other investigations on N5521P (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 LAX66F0284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66F0284), Feb 14, 1966: Piper PA-24 (N5521P), Reno Vev, NV, 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.