# NTSB LAX72AL034: Piper PA-28, N5721U, Bonita, CA, November 16, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 16, 1971
- Place: Bonita, CA · BONITA, CA
- Location: 32.6713° N, 117.0038° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bonita, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6713&lon=-117.0038&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164780
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72AL034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL034

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4559  71/11/16   BONITA,CALIF        N.AMERICAN T-6      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1127                    N9542C              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  34, 4926 TOTAL HOURS, 84
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  3  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTEE,CALIF                SAN DIEGO,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- ALL 4 PERS WERE PLTS EMPLOYED BY SAME OPERATOR AND WERE RET TO BASE AFTER ATTENDING A MEETING.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4559  71/11/16   BONITA,CALIF        PIPER PA-28         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1127                    N5721U              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 31, 3780 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  1  0  0                            1050 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTEE,CALIF                SAN DIEGO,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- ACFT OBS IN FORMATION FLT. T-6 PERFORMED LOOP AND HIT PA-28 L WG DURING PULL UP FROM LOOP.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N5721U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N9542C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9542C-1972-05-08), registration cancelled 1972-05-08, S/N 88-12712 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: N.AMERICAN T-6
- Registry model: [North American AT-6C](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6c) (registry code 6400412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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.