# NTSB LAX74AL027: Aero Comdr 680FL, N7377B, Van Nuys, CA, October 12, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 12, 1973
- Place: Van Nuys, CA · VAN NUYS, CA
- Location: 34.1867° N, 118.4490° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Van Nuys, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1867&lon=-118.4490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187857
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3944  73/10/12   VAN NUYS,CALIF      AERO COMDR 680FL    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 16000
        TIME - 1021                    N7377B              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 3500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VAN NUYS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VAN NUYS,CALIF              FULLERTON,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FUEL SELECTORS FOUND ON EMPTY AUX TANKS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7377B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7377B-1974-06-12), registration cancelled 1974-06-12, S/N 1402-57 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 680FL
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 680FL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680fl) (registry code 0141608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Van Nuys

## 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 19731012042459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731012042459A), Oct 12, 1973: Rkwell 680FLP, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Fuel selectors found on empty aux tanks.

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.
