# NTSB LAX69D0097: Mooney M-18L, N370A, Blythe, CA, August 31, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 31, 1968
- Place: Blythe, CA · BLYTHE, CA
- Location: 33.6535° N, 114.6218° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Blythe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6535&lon=-114.6218&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 30, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 109073
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX69D0097
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX69D0097

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3024  68/8/31    BLYTHE,CALIF        MOONEY M-18L        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 350
        TIME - 1545                    N370A               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 4 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HERON
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        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
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          225                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 15 KNOTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N370A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N370A-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 31, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-18L
- Registry model: [Mooney M-18L](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-18l) (registry code 5870106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Heron

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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