# NTSB LAX75AL013: Piper PA-28, N4320T, Santa Ana, CA, September 9, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 9, 1974
- Place: Santa Ana, CA · SANTA ANA, CA
- Location: 33.7368° N, 117.8829° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Ana, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7368&lon=-117.8829&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 22, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138869
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX75AL013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75AL013

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3187   74/9/9    SANTA ANA,CALIF     PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 32, 5 TOTAL
        TIME - 2252                    N4320T              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ORANGE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA ANA,CALIF            UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STOLEN OR UNAUTH=
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- STOLEN AIRCRAFT.DMGD TREES,HOUSES,GARAGE,SHED,BUS & 3 CARS.BLOOD ALCOHOL LVL .14 PCT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4320T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4320T-1974-12-17), registration cancelled 1974-12-17, S/N 28-7225138, built 1971 (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
- Airport: Orange County

## 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 19740909036759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740909036759A), Sep 9, 1974: Piper PA28140, Santa Ana, CA, Destroyed. Stolen aircraft. Dmgd trees,houses,garage,shed,bus & 3 cars. Blood alcohol lvl .14 pct.

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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