# NTSB OAK76AP022: Piper PA-24, N8162P, Santa Rita, CA, October 26, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 26, 1975
- Place: Santa Rita, CA · SANTA RITA, CA
- Location: 36.7238° N, 121.6561° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Rita, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7238&lon=-121.6561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76AP022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76AP022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3365  75/10/26 NR.SANTA RITA,CA      PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 1164
        TIME - 1922                    N8162P              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 612 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              LIVERMORE,CA                 FLAGSTAFF,AZ
        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 - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      55
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          350                                                       2
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8162P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8162P-1976-01-12), registration cancelled 1976-01-12, S/N 24-3417 (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)
- 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 19751026037769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751026037769A), Oct 26, 1975: Piper PA24250, Santa Rita, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal

## Other investigations on N8162P (2)

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 OAK72DVG63](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVG63-166915), May 24, 1972: Piper PA-24 (N8162P), Beale Afb, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK70DVG18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70DVG18), May 22, 1970: Piper PA-24 (N8162P), Vacaville, 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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