# NTSB OAK78FA016: Beech 35, N3783N, Napa, CA, February 10, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 10, 1978
- Place: Napa, CA · NAPA, CA
- Location: 38.2971° N, 122.3010° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Napa, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2971&lon=-122.3010&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 12, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FA016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FA016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0332  78/2/10  NR.NAPA,CA            BEECH 35            CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1115                    N3783N              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  49, 3000 TOTAL HOURS, 300
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NOVATO,CA                   SACRAMENTO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- LEFT WING DISINTEGRATED IN FLIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3783N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3783N-2009-07-27), registration cancelled 2009-07-27, S/N D-1005, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35
- Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (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 19780210004799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780210004799A), Feb 10, 1978: Beech 35BEECH, Napa, CA, Destroyed. Left wing disintegrated in flight.

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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