# NTSB LAX76AL059: Piper PA-23, N5931Y, Desert Hot Spg, CA, March 1, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 1, 1976
- Place: Desert Hot Spg, CA · DESERT HOT SPG, CA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 19, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153251
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76AL059
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76AL059

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0473   76/3/1  NR.DESERT HOT SPG,CA  PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 550
        TIME - 1644                    N5931Y              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAKE HAVASU CITY,AZ         PALOMAR,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      68
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       17
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LOW CLOUDS REPTD AT SITE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5931Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5931Y-1976-06-15), registration cancelled 1976-06-15, S/N 27-3095 (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)
- 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 19760301009659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760301009659A), Mar 1, 1976: Piper PA23250, Desert Hot Spg, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Low clouds reptd at site.

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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