# NTSB LAX70A0016: Piper PA-24, N9304P, Blythe, CA, September 3, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 3, 1969
- 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: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158428
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX70A0016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70A0016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2649   69/9/3    BLYTHE,CALIF        PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 175
        TIME - 1915                    N9304P              PX-  5  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 48 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLYTHE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PHOENIX,ARIZ                BLYTHE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: RUNWAY LIGHTING
        REMARKS- PLT WAS TRYING TO LAND BY CAR LTS. CURRENT NOTAM STATED RWY LTS INOP,DUE PREVIOUS SEVERE STORM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9304P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9304P-1970-06-25), registration cancelled 1970-06-25, S/N 244800 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Blythe

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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