# NTSB LAX78FA041: Piper PA-23, N62845, Mesa, AZ, April 13, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 13, 1978
- Place: Mesa, AZ · MESA, AZ
- Location: 33.4223° N, 111.8226° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mesa, AZ, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4223&lon=-111.8226&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142018
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA041
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA041

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1775  78/4/13    MESA,AZ             PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 7900
        TIME - 1053                    N62845              PX-  0  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NOGALAS,AZ                  PHOENIX,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           COLLIDED WITH: RESIDENCE(S)                              IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
        FACTOR(S)
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: ELEVATOR AND ELEVATOR TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT AWARE OF FULL NOSE DOWN TRIM. 0.10% LVL ALCOHOL IN LIVER SPECIMEN.45LBS FORCE RQD FOR LVL FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62845](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62845-1982-08-03), registration cancelled 1982-08-03, S/N 27-7754083 (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: Sky Harbor

## 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 19780413019379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780413019379A), Apr 13, 1978: Piper PA23, Mesa, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Plt aware of full nose down trim. 0.10 lvl alcohol in liver spec.45LBS force rqd for lvl flt.

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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