# NTSB OAK78FVG53: Piper PA-24, N7335P, Ruth, CA, June 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 23, 1978
- Place: Ruth, CA · RUTH, CA
- Location: 40.2696° N, 123.3214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ruth, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2696&lon=-123.3214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141412
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FVG53
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FVG53

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1750  78/6/23    RUTH,CA             PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 438
        TIME - 1715                    N7335P              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 212 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RUTH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FRESNO,CA                   RUTH,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7335P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7335P-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 24-2514, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ruth

## 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 19780623015409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780623015409A), Jun 23, 1978: Piper PA24400, Ruth, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal

## Other investigations on N7335P (2)

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 DEN70D0060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70D0060), Jul 4, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N7335P), Lake City, CO, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK64X0636](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0636), Feb 21, 1964: Piper PA24 (N7335P), Guymon, OK, 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.

---
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.
