# NTSB LAX74AL037: Piper PA-24, N5531P, San Dimas, CA, November 17, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 17, 1973
- Place: San Dimas, CA · SAN DIMAS, CA
- Location: 34.1080° N, 117.8085° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Dimas, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1080&lon=-117.8085&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187905
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL037
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL037

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3703  73/11/17   SAN DIMAS,CALIF     PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 39, 487
        TIME - 1639                    N5531P              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 15 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BRACKETT FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LA VERNE,CALIF              SANTA MONICA,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      200
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           7                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- INSTRUMENT DEP.FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RADIO CALLS.HISTORY OF VERTIGO IN TRAINING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5531P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5531P-1974-02-12), registration cancelled 1974-02-12, S/N 24595 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Brackett Field

## 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 19731117040699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731117040699A), Nov 17, 1973: Piper PA24250, San Dimas, CA, Destroyed. Instrument dep. Failed to acknowledge radio calls. History of vertigo in training.

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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