# NTSB OAK78DVA74: Navion A, N81K, Chowchilla, CA, August 16, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 16, 1978
- Place: Chowchilla, CA · CHOWCHILLA, CA
- Location: 37.1161° N, 120.2420° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chowchilla, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1161&lon=-120.2420&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139953
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78DVA74
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DVA74

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2070  78/8/16    CHOWCHILLA,CA       NAVION A            CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 450
        TIME - 2045                    N81K                PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 236 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHOWCHILLA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STOCKTON,CA                 FRESNO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISCALCULATED FUEL CONSUMPTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        REMARKS- HIT CRANE CABLE WHILE ON FINAL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81K-1981-12-17), registration cancelled 1981-12-17, S/N NAV-4-1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVION A
- Registry model: [Navion NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-a) (registry code 6150104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Chowchilla

## 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 19780816023579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780816023579A), Aug 16, 1978: Navion NAVIOND, Chowchilla, CA, Substantial damage. Hit crane cable while on final.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.