# NTSB OAK76AP069: Piper PA-32R, N6265J, North Fork, CA, September 15, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 15, 1976
- Place: North Fork, CA · NORTH FORK, CA
- Location: 37.2297° N, 119.5096° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of North Fork, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2297&lon=-119.5096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 149690
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76AP069
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76AP069

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3270  76/9/15    NORTH FORK,CA       PIPER PA-32R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 46, 500
        TIME - 1000                    N6265J              PX-  3  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 2 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN CARLOS,CA               SALT LAKE CITY,UT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- HIT OBSCURED MTN SLOPE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6265J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6265J-1977-01-13), registration cancelled 1977-01-13, S/N 32R-7680353 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (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 19760915036059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760915036059A), Sep 15, 1976: Piper PA32R300, North Fork, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Hit obscured mtn slope.

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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