# NTSB LAX72FUA20: Piper PA-28, N7268F, Avalon, CA, October 24, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 24, 1971
- Place: Avalon, CA · AVALON, CA
- Location: 33.3440° N, 118.3214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Avalon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3440&lon=-118.3214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 1, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163835
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX72FUA20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72FUA20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3585  71/10/24   AVALON,CALIF        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 25, 72 TOTAL
        TIME - 1327                    N7268F              PX-  0  2  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 27 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CATALINA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LONG BEACH,CALIF            AVALON,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     210
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT DSNDD BLO SRNDG TRRN,WND GUSTS TO 27K-ATMTD GOARND,RTRCTD FLAPS,HIT TREES IN L TURN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7268F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7268F-1971-12-21), registration cancelled 1971-12-21, S/N 2825190 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Catalina

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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