# NTSB OAK76AP070: Piper PA-24, N7614P, Trinity Center, CA, September 15, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 15, 1976
- Place: Trinity Center, CA · TRINITY CENTER, CA
- Location: 40.9841° N, 122.7083° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Trinity Center, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9841&lon=-122.7083&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 5, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155558
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76AP070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76AP070

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3593  76/9/15  NR.TRINITY CENTER,CA  PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 306
        TIME - 2137                    N7614P              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BELLINGHAM,WA               MODESTO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      57
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 9/16/76.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7614P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7614P-1977-04-01), registration cancelled 1977-04-01, S/N 242825 (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 19760915039829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760915039829A), Sep 15, 1976: Piper PA24250, Trinity Center, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Recovery date 9/16/76.

## Other investigations on N7614P (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 UNK64X0571](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0571), Feb 15, 1964: Piper PA24 (N7614P), Gary, IN, 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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