# NTSB LAX72AL061: Aero Comdr 500-A, N140X, Safford, AZ, June 2, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 2, 1972
- Place: Safford, AZ · SAFFORD, AZ
- Location: 32.8333° N, 109.6974° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Safford, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8333&lon=-109.6974&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 9, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72AL061
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL061

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1671   72/6/2  NR.SAFFORD,ARIZ       AERO COMDR 500-A    CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1730                    N140X               PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC FIRE CTL ACTIVITY   34, 7589 TOTAL HOURS, 48
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         SAFFORD,ARIZ                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          MISC-LOSS OF CTL IN MTN TERRAIN FOR UNDET REASON.
        REMARKS- NO WITNESSES TO STEEP NOSE DOWN IMPACT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N140X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N140X-1972-07-12), registration cancelled 1972-07-12, S/N 500A-1268-91, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 500-A
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-a) (registry code 0141104) (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.

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