# NTSB LAX77FA015: Piper PA-23, N5590Y, Blythe, CA, December 15, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 15, 1976
- Place: Blythe, CA · BLYTHE, CA
- Location: 33.6535° N, 114.6218° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Blythe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6535&lon=-114.6218&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156689
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77FA015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FA015

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3814  76/12/15 NR.BLYTHE,CA          PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 32, UNK/NR
        TIME - 0955                    N5590Y              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLYTHE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SCOTTSDALE,AZ               FULLERTON,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           STALL: SPIRAL                                            LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - LUBRICATING SYSTEM: LINES,HOSES,FITTING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DETERIORATED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - EXCESSIVE-WEAR/PLAY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LEAK/LEAKAGE
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- OIL COOLER LINE,L ENG,POOR COND. PLT FLEW PATTERN TOO WIDE FOR SINGLE ENG APCH. GOT BLO VMC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5590Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5590Y-1977-03-21), registration cancelled 1977-03-21, S/N 27-2697 (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
- Airport: Blythe

## 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 19761215041649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761215041649A), Dec 15, 1976: Piper PA23250, Blythe, CA, Destroyed. Oil cooler line,l eng,poor cond. Plt flew pattern too wide for single eng apch. Got blo VMC.

## Other investigations on N5590Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB DIA69F0200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69F0200), Apr 18, 1969: Piper PA-23 (N5590Y), Roanoke, VA, substantial damage

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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