# NTSB OAK79DVA21: Piper PA-23, N1437P, Visalia, CA, December 21, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1978
- Place: Visalia, CA · VISALIA, CA
- Location: 36.3302° N, 119.2921° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Visalia, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3302&lon=-119.2921&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79DVA21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79DVA21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3672  78/12/21   VISALIA,CA          PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 2430
        TIME - 1740                    N1437P              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1103 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VISALIA MUNICIPAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MAMMOTH LAKES,CA            VISALIA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: RUNWAY OR APPROACH LIGHTS                 LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALTIMETER SETTING-INCORRECT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - RECIEVED RECORDED BRIEFING BY LFMF RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PLT DID NOT CALL FOR OR RCV LATEST ALT SETTING PRIOR TO MAKING APPROACH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1437P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1437P-2012-06-21), registration cancelled 2012-06-21, S/N 23-495, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (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
- Airport: Visalia Municipal

## 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 19781221037159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781221037159A), Dec 21, 1978: Piper PA23, Visalia, CA, Substantial damage. Plt did not call for or rcv latest alt setting prior to making apch.

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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