# NTSB LAX75AL019: Piper PA-23, N501EE, Long Beach, CA, October 18, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 18, 1974
- Place: Long Beach, CA · LONG BEACH, CA
- Location: 33.7670° N, 118.1892° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Long Beach, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7670&lon=-118.1892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 11, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 146449
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX75AL019
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75AL019

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4288  74/10/18   LONG BEACH,CALIF    PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 1780
        TIME - 0255                    N501EE              PX-  3  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LONG BEACH INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          LONG BEACH,CALIF            GRAND JUNCTION,COLO          LAS VEGAS,NEV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       61
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR (VFR CONDITIONS ON TOP)
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT STRUCK NATURAL GAS TANK LOCATED .6 MI SOUTH OF RWY 25L.OVER MAX GROSS WT ABT 515 LBS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N501EE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501EE-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N 27-2088, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Long Beach Intl

## 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 19741018044259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741018044259A), Oct 18, 1974: Piper PA23250, Long Beach, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Acft struck natural gas tank located .6 mi south of rwy 25L.over max gross wt abt 515 lbs.

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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