# NTSB OAK79DVD03: Piper PA-28R, N43939, Arcata, CA, November 9, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 9, 1978
- Place: Arcata, CA · ARCATA, CA
- Location: 40.8623° N, 124.0750° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Arcata, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8623&lon=-124.0750&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 20, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138971
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79DVD03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79DVD03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2905   78/11/9   ARCATA,CA           PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 32, 152
        TIME - 1235                    N43939              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 109 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ARCATA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ARCATA,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: RUNWAY OR APPROACH LIGHTS                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 023-067 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           53                                                      240
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           28                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N43939 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Arcata

## 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 19781109035939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781109035939A), Nov 9, 1978: Piper PA28R201T, Arcata, CA, 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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