# NTSB LAX78FA014: Bellanca 7ECA, N5233X, Catalina Islnd, CA, December 14, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 14, 1977
- Place: Catalina Islnd, CA · CATALINA ISLND, CA
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 7, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144427
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3966  77/12/14 NR.CATALINA ISLND,CA  BELLANCA 7ECA       CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                STUDENT, AGE 23, 750
        TIME - 1345                    N5233X              PX-  0  0  0  FISH SPOTTING             TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TORRANCE,CA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDETERMINED                                             UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          HAZE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- IDENTIFIABLE AUX FUEL TANK LOCATED 12/16/77. NO FURTHER WRECKAGE OR PLTS BODY RECOVERED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5233X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5233X-1978-03-03), registration cancelled 1978-03-03, S/N 688 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA
- Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (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 19771214040489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771214040489A), Dec 14, 1977: Blanca 7ECA, Catalina Islnd, CA, Destroyed. Identifiable aux fuel tank located 12/16/77. No further wreckage or plts body recovered.

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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