# NTSB OAK77FA041: Piper PA-28, N44119, Truckee, CA, July 18, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 18, 1977
- Place: Truckee, CA · TRUCKEE, CA
- Location: 39.3280° N, 120.1833° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Truckee, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3280&lon=-120.1833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 11, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 146027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK77FA041
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77FA041

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3055  77/7/18  NR.TRUCKEE,CA         PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 581
        TIME - 1433                    N44119              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 7 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRUCKEE-TAHOE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         TRUCKEE,CA                   SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      82
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          190                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- MIX FULL RICH.CLMB OUT TOWARD RISING TERRAIN,LEE SIDE OF MTN RIDGE.WIND GUSTING 25K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44119](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44119-1977-12-15), registration cancelled 1977-12-15, S/N 28-7425389, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Truckee-Tahoe

## 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 19770718033279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770718033279A), Jul 18, 1977: Piper PA28140, Truckee, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Mix full rich. Clmb out toward rising terrain,lee side of mtn ridge. Wind gusting 25K.

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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