# NTSB OAK79FA018: Piper PA-28R, N222WF, Fernley, NV, February 18, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1979
- Place: Fernley, NV · FERNLEY, NV
- Location: 39.6080° N, 119.2518° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fernley, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6080&lon=-119.2518&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 13, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137269
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79FA018
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FA018

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1866  79/2/18  NR.FERNLEY,NV         PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 218
        TIME - 1505                    N222WF              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RENO,NV                     EUGENE OR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      48
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          190                                                       18
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE: 2/25/79.WND GUSTING 25 KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N222WF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222WF-1981-12-18), registration cancelled 1981-12-18, S/N 28R-7737108, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (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 19790218010159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790218010159A), Feb 18, 1979: Piper PA28R201, Fernley, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR pilot attempted to climb over enroute weather. Lost control. Exceeded design load factor. Airframe separation.

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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