# NTSB LAX72AL043: Boeing 747, N77772, Lake Charles, LA, January 4, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: January 4, 1972
- Place: Lake Charles, LA · LAKE CHARLES, LA
- Location: 30.2266° N, 93.2174° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake Charles, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2266&lon=-93.2174&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 5 serious, 37 minor, 288 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1972
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72AL043
- Board report AAR7221 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7221.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL043

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0006   72/1/4  NR.LAKE CHARLES,LA    BOEING 747          CR-  0  1 12  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1314                    N77772              PX-  0  4313                            55, 24454 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            853 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        OPERATOR - NATIONAL AIRLINES,INC
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MIAMI,FLA                   LOS ANGELES,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PASSENGER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEAT BELT NOT FASTENED
           PERSONNEL - FLIGHT PERSONNEL
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEAT BELT SIGN ON
        WEATHER BRIEFING - COMPANY DISPATCH
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- SEATBELT USAGE NOT ENFORCED BY STEWARDESSES DUE TO GIVING PRIORITY TO REGULAR PSGR SVC DUTIES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N77772 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage

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.