# NTSB OAK75AP027: Piper PA-32, N7705J, Hlf Moon By, CA, December 27, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 27, 1974
- Place: Hlf Moon By, CA · HLF MOON BY, CA
- Location: 37.4673° N, 122.4399° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Half Moon Bay, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4673&lon=-122.4399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK75AP027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75AP027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4229  74/12/27 NR.HLF MOON BY,CALIF  PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 250
        TIME - 1705                    N7705J              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EUGENE,OREG                 SAN DIEGO,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          120                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WX.RECEIVING VECTORS TO SFO WHEN RADAR CONTACT LOST OVR OCEAN.NOT RECOVERED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7705J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7705J-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N 32-1072, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (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: 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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