# NTSB LAX78FA031: Aero Comdr 500A, N6143X, Solvang, CA, February 28, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 28, 1978
- Place: Solvang, CA · SOLVANG, CA
- Location: 34.5938° N, 120.1397° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Solvang, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5938&lon=-120.1397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143389
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1161  78/2/28  NR.SOLVANG,CA         AERO COMDR 500A     CR-  3  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1030                    N6143X              PX-  4  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 48, 17770 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 2440 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          VISALIA,CA                  SANTA BARBARA,CA             SANTA MARIA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          GROUND FOG                                                61
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          110                                                       11
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6143X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6143X-1981-12-18), registration cancelled 1981-12-18, S/N 500A-931-26 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 500A
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-a) (registry code 0141104) (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 19780228016929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780228016929A), Feb 28, 1978: Rkwell 500B, Solvang, CA, Destroyed, 5 fatal

## Other investigations on N6143X (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 IAD74DLT11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74DLT11), Dec 27, 1973: Aero Comdr 500-A (N6143X), Memphis, TN, 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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