# NTSB OAK76FVG50: Piper PA-28, N3635R, French Gulch, CA, March 8, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 8, 1976
- Place: French Gulch, CA · FRENCH GULCH, CA
- Location: 40.7188° N, 122.6294° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of French Gulch, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7188&lon=-122.6294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 16, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76FVG50
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76FVG50

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0487   76/3/8    FRENCH GULCH,CA     PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1245                    N3635R              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  54, 24594 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            476 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TRINITY CENTER,CA           SAN FRANCISCO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OIL EXHAUSTION-ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3635R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3635R-1976-05-11), registration cancelled 1976-05-11, S/N 28-5730 (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

## 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 19760308006449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760308006449A), Mar 8, 1976: Piper PA28180, French Gulch, CA, Destroyed

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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