# NTSB OAK76AP005: Piper PA-28, N55745, Petaluma, CA, August 4, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 4, 1975
- Place: Petaluma, CA · PETALUMA, CA
- Location: 38.2420° N, 122.6286° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Petaluma, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2420&lon=-122.6286&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 18, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 150229
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76AP005
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76AP005

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2216   75/8/4    PETALUMA,CA         PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 97 TOTAL
        TIME - 2350                    N55745              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 1 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SKY RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHICO,CA                    PETALUMA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          GROUND FOG                                                55
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           VFR
        REMARKS- PLT ATTMPTD APCH IN GRND FOG WITH LDG LTS ON.
```

## 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: Destroyed
- Airport: Sky Ranch

## 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 19750804026449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750804026449A), Aug 4, 1975: Piper PA28180, Petaluma, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Plt attmptd apch in grnd fog with ldg lts on.

## 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 OAK74DVG13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVG13), Sep 16, 1973: Piper PA-28 (N55745), Chico, 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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