# NTSB OAK74DVG13: Piper PA-28, N55745, Chico, CA, September 16, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 16, 1973
- Place: Chico, CA · CHICO, CA
- Location: 39.7285° N, 121.8375° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chico, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7285&lon=-121.8375&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 30, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74DVG13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVG13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2723  73/9/16  NR.CHICO,CALIF        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 375
        TIME - 1100                    N55745              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 12 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHICO,CALIF                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
        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                                                      80
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RISING TERRAIN.HIT TREES ATMTNG TURN-ARND.RETURNED TO ARPT.DENSITY ALT 8762FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55745](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55745-1976-05-25), registration cancelled 1976-05-25, S/N 287305458 (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Chico Municipal

## 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 19730916031969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730916031969A), Sep 16, 1973: Piper PA28180, Chico, CA, Substantial damage. Rising terrain. Hit trees atmtng turn-arnd. Returned to arpt. Density alt 8762FT.

## Other investigations on N55745 (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 OAK76AP005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76AP005), Aug 4, 1975: Piper PA-28 (N55745), Petaluma, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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