# NTSB SEA78FA020: Piper PA-32R, N6992J, Oak Harbor, WA, February 22, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 22, 1978
- Place: Oak Harbor, WA · OAK HARBOR, WA
- Location: 48.2938° N, 122.6282° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oak Harbor, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2938&lon=-122.6282&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143750
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FA020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FA020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0253  78/2/22  NR.OAK HARBOR,WA      PIPER PA-32R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2135                    N6992J              PX-  6  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 42, 532 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            11 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - AULT FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COMOX,B.C.                  SEATTLE,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: GENERATORS/ALTERNATORS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ARCING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       46
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          170                                                       2
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- ALTERNATOR DISCONNECT AT OUTPUT TERMINAL.PLT 12 HOURS TRIP TIME AT ACCDT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6992J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6992J-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N 32R-7680404, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ault Field

## 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 19780222003189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780222003189A), Feb 22, 1978: Piper PA32RT300, Oak Harbor, WA, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Alternator disconnect at output terminal. Plt 12 hours trip time acdt.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.