# NTSB OAK78DXQ16: Piper PA-18, N9714P, Emigrant Gap, CA, March 30, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 30, 1978
- Place: Emigrant Gap, CA · EMIGRANT GAP, CA
- Location: 39.2968° N, 120.6727° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Emigrant Gap, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2968&lon=-120.6727&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142646
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78DXQ16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DXQ16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0537  78/3/30  NR.EMIGRANT GAP,CA    PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1830                    N9714P              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LOVELOCK,NV                 LODI,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
                                  APPROACHING DARKNESS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PILOT LANDED IN DEEP SNOW WHEN CAUGHT IN MOUNTAIN VALLEYS WITH LOW CLOUDS AND APPROACHING DARKNESS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9714P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9714P), registered now, S/N 18-7709003, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780330006379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780330006379A), Mar 30, 1978: Piper PA18150, Emigrant Gap, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed in deep snow when caught in mountain valleys with loouds and approaching darkness

## Other investigations on N9714P (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 MIA77DLD80](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DLD80), Aug 31, 1977: Piper PA-18 (N9714P), Zellwood, FL, 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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