# NTSB LAX78FA013: Piper PA-30, N922JS, Van Nuys, CA, December 17, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 17, 1977
- Place: Van Nuys, CA · VAN NUYS, CA
- Location: 34.1867° N, 118.4490° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Van Nuys, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1867&lon=-118.4490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144091
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA013

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4206  77/12/17   VAN NUYS,CA         PIPER PA-30         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 66, 3000
        TIME - 1541                    N922JS              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 800 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VAN NUYS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUCSON,AZ                   VAN NUYS,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           STALL: SPIN                                              IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        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 - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      54
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          140                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- RAN MAINS DRY.AUX TANKS FULL.FLEW 7 MINUTES AFTR MISSED APCH WITHOUT REPORTING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N922JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N922JS-2018-03-23), registration cancelled 2018-03-23, S/N 30-1635, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Van Nuys

## 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 19771217043489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771217043489A), Dec 17, 1977: Piper PA30, Van Nuys, CA, Destroyed. Ran mains dry. Aux tanks full. Flew 7 minutes aftr missed apch without reporting.

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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