# NTSB OAK78FAO36: Cessna 182A, N3873D, Red Bluff, CA, July 2, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 2, 1978
- Place: Red Bluff, CA · RED BLUFF, CA
- Location: 40.1735° N, 122.2415° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Red Bluff, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1735&lon=-122.2415&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FAO36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FAO36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2820   78/7/2  NR.RED BLUFF,CA       CESSNA 182A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 135
        TIME - 2205                    N3873D              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 55 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA         REDDING,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      67
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          350                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3873D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3873D-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 34573, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, 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 19780702032839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780702032839A), Jul 2, 1978: Cessna 182H, Red Bluff, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal

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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