# NTSB LAX77FA014: Aerostar 601P, N7485S, Costa Mesa, CA, December 5, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 5, 1976
- Place: Costa Mesa, CA · COSTA MESA, CA
- Location: 33.6659° N, 117.9123° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Costa Mesa, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6659&lon=-117.9123&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 21, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3514   76/12/5 NR.COSTA MESA,CA      AEROSTAR 601P       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 571
        TIME - 1612                    N7485S              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 149 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ORANGE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MAZATLAN,MEX.              COSTA MESA,CA                 SAN DIEGO,CA.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           STALL: SPIN                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- L ENG QUIT,PROP NOT FEATH.LONG LOW FINAL. GOT BLO VMC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7485S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7485S-1977-04-13), registration cancelled 1977-04-13, S/N 61-0052-97 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR 601P
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-601p) (registry code 7106012) (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 19761205040009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761205040009A), Dec 5, 1976: Piper 601SMITH, Costa Mesa, CA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. L eng quit,prop not feath. Long low final. Got blo VMC.

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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