# NTSB LAX76AL070: Beech B60, N37D, Palm Desert, CA, April 15, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 15, 1976
- Place: Palm Desert, CA · PALM DESERT, CA
- Location: 33.7376° N, 116.3641° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palm Desert, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7376&lon=-116.3641&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153455
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX76AL070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76AL070

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1570  76/4/15  NR.PALM DESERT,CA     BEECH B60           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1455                    N37D                PX-  5  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      30, 4900 TOTAL HOURS, 38
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN DIEGO,CA                PALM SPRINGS,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - WIND SHEAR
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    7000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING DUST                                              72
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       50
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- GUSTS 80 KNOTS.SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS REPORTED IN AREA.R EMPENNAGE ASSY & R OUTBD WG PANEL FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37D-1976-05-13), registration cancelled 1976-05-13, S/N P-335, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B60
- Registry model: [Beech B-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b-60) (registry code 1153605) (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 19760415019629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760415019629A), Apr 15, 1976: Beech B60, Palm Desert, CA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Gusts 80 knots. Severe turbulence was reported in area.r empennage assy & r outbd wg panel failed.

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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