# NTSB LAX74AL011: Cessna 172L, N7651G, Sylmar, CA, November 1, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 1, 1973
- Place: Sylmar, CA · SYLMAR, CA
- Location: 34.3078° N, 118.4492° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sylmar, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3078&lon=-118.4492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 10, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188097
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL011
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL011

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3446   73/11/1   SYLMAR,CALIF        CESSNA 172L         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 132
        TIME - 1732                    N7651G              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 15 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN DIEGO,CALIF             VAN NUYS,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE/RADIO, LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    2000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      63
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LOST,REQD ATC ASSISTANCE.CONFUSED,FAILED TO MNTN CLR OF CLOUDS,DISORIENTED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7651G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7651G-1974-01-25), registration cancelled 1974-01-25, S/N 17259351 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19731101038889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731101038889A), Nov 1, 1973: Cessna 172L, Sylmar, CA, Destroyed. Lost,reqd ATC assistance. Confused,failed to mntn clr of clouds,disoriented.

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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