# NTSB OAK79FVA21: Piper PA-36, N9946P, Los Banos, CA, March 14, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 14, 1979
- Place: Los Banos, CA · LOS BANOS, CA
- Location: 37.0634° N, 120.8384° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Los Banos, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0634&lon=-120.8384&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137567
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK79FVA21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK79FVA21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0540  79/3/14    LOS BANOS,CA        PIPER PA-36         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 2391
        TIME - 1127                    N9946P              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LOS BANOS,CA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  500                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FAILED ON IMPACT                     GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  120                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - ENTRY TO PROCEDURE TURN
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9946P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9946P-2013-05-31), registration cancelled 2013-05-31, S/N 36-7560057, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 6-285-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-6-285-a) (registry code 17038, reciprocating) (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 19790314004659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790314004659A), Mar 14, 1979: Piper PA36285, Los Banos, CA, Destroyed. Aerial applicator pilot hit a tree on pull up from spray run.

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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