# NTSB LAX77FA029: Beech F-33A, N7307R, Needles, CA, March 15, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 15, 1977
- Place: Needles, CA · NEEDLES, CA
- Location: 34.8136° N, 114.6266° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Needles, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8136&lon=-114.6266&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77FA029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FA029

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0583  77/3/15  NR.NEEDLES,CA         MOONEY M20F         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 3000
        TIME - 0723                    N9649M              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  2  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NEEDLES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN DIEGO,CA               NEEDLES,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - FLIGHT SERVICE STATION              RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - RADAR SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - OTHER                          CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- BOTH ACFT ON SAME FREQ,WERE AWARE OF EACH OTHERS PRESENCE.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0583  77/3/15  NR.NEEDLES,CA         BEECH F-33A         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 144
        TIME - 0723                    N7307R              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  1  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NEEDLES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          GOODYEAR,AZ                 BLYTHE,CA                   NEEDLES,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - FLIGHT SERVICE STATION              RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - RADAR SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - OTHER                          CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- BEECH HEADING WESTERLY,MOONEY TOWARDS EAST. FSS  RECOMMENDED RWY 01.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N7307R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7307R-1977-06-24), registration cancelled 1977-06-24, S/N CE-503 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F-33A
- Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Needles

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N9649M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9649M-1977-07-12), registration cancelled 1977-07-12, S/N 670226 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Needles

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19770315008301A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770315008301A), Mar 15, 1977: Beech F33A, Needles, CA, Destroyed. Beech heading westerly,Mooney towards east. Fss recommended rwy 01.
- [Accident 19770315008302A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770315008302A), Mar 15, 1977: Mooney M20F, Needles, CA, Destroyed. Both acft on same freq,were aware of each others presence.

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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