# NTSB OAK79FA030: Piper PA-32, N44698, Groveland, CA, May 11, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 11, 1979
- Place: Groveland, CA · GROVELAND, CA
- Location: 37.8277° N, 120.2442° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Groveland, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8277&lon=-120.2442&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79FA030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FA030

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1156  79/5/11  NR.GROVELAND,CA       PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 432
        TIME - 1955                    N44698              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 13 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          SAN DIEGO,CA                RENO,NV                      LOS ANGELES,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          MISC-FUEL STARVATION FOR UNDETERMINED REASON.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE:5/12/79.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44698](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44698-1982-08-23), registration cancelled 1982-08-23, S/N 32-7440170, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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 19790511016729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790511016729A), May 11, 1979: Piper PA32300, Groveland, CA, Destroyed. Pilot said engine quit after switching fuel tanks. Unable to restart. Hit trees on ridge. Attempt glide to airport.

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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