# NTSB LAX75AL009: Piper PA-28, N6217W, Pt.Vicente, CA, August 28, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 28, 1974
- Place: Pt.Vicente, CA · PT.VICENTE, CA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134350
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX75AL009
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75AL009

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2564  74/8/28    PT.VICENTE,CALIF    PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 450
        TIME - 1846                    N6217W              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 80 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CATALINA ISLND,CALIF        SIMI VALLEY,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- PILOT FAILED TO HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO GLIDE TO LAND.NO FLOTATION GEAR ABOARD.PLT DROWNED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6217W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6217W-1974-10-29), registration cancelled 1974-10-29, S/N 28-20253 (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

## 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 19740828030929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740828030929A), Aug 28, 1974: Piper PA28140, Pt.Vicente, CA, Destroyed. Pilot failed to have sufficient altitude to glide to land. No flotation gear aboard. Plt drowned.

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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