# NTSB LAX74AL029: Ryan Navion F, N5227K, Signal Hill, CA, October 21, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 21, 1973
- Place: Signal Hill, CA · SIGNAL HILL, CA
- Location: 33.8035° N, 118.1697° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Signal Hill, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8035&lon=-118.1697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 10, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188098
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3447  73/10/21   SIGNAL HILL,CALIF   RYAN NAVION F       CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 565
        TIME - 0608                    N5227K              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 370 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LONG BEACH MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LONG BEACH,CALIF            BLYTHE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: BUILDING(S)                               IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        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
          OVERCAST                                                  700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       62
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR (VFR CONDITIONS ON TOP)
        REMARKS- IFR DEP TO VFR ON TOP.PLT RPTD"SPATIALLY DISORIENTED"AT 0607.HIT GTE WAREHSE.DMG EST 70000DOLS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5227K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5227K-1974-01-21), registration cancelled 1974-01-21, S/N 42127B (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RYAN NAVION F
- Registry model: [Navion NAVION B](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-b) (registry code 6150112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Long Beach Muni

## 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 19731021038509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731021038509A), Oct 21, 1973: Navion NAVIONB, Signal Hill, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. IFR dep to VFR on top. Plt rptd"spatially disoriented"at 0607.hit gte warehse. Dmg EST 70000DOLS.

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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