# NTSB OAK75AP044: Piper PA-23, N246Z, Healdsburg, CA, March 18, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 18, 1975
- Place: Healdsburg, CA · HEALDSBURG, CA
- Location: 38.6225° N, 122.8651° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Healdsburg, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6225&lon=-122.8651&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 148100
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK75AP044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75AP044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1296  75/3/18  NR.HEALDSBURG,CA      PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1841                    N246Z               PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  38, 5564 TOTAL HOURS, 236
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          SAN DIEGO,CA                UKIAH,CA                     BAKERSFIELD,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- HIT PWR CABLE IN KNOWN MARGINAL WEA. RECOVERY DATE 3/19/75.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N246Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N246Z-1975-08-05), registration cancelled 1975-08-05, S/N 23-1861 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19750318015069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750318015069A), Mar 18, 1975: Piper PA23160, Healdsburg, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Hit pwr cable in known marginal wea. Recovery date 3/19/75.

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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