# NTSB LAX78FA043: Piper PA-23, N5641Y, Trabuco Canyon, CA, April 15, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 15, 1978
- Place: Trabuco Canyon, CA · TRABUCO CANYON, CA
- Location: 33.6782° N, 117.5940° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Trabuco Canyon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6782&lon=-117.5940&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA043
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA043-141580

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3925  78/4/15  NR.TRABUCO CANYON,CA  PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1514                    N5641Y              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  58, 21217 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            800 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA MONICA,CA             PHOENIX,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- NEAREST WEATHER STATION REPORTED 600 FT OVERCAST AND 1 MILE VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5641Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5641Y-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 27-2755, built 1965 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (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 19780415041869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780415041869A), Apr 15, 1978: Piper PA23, Trabuco Canyon, CA, Destroyed. Nearest weather station reported 600 ft overcast and 1 mile visiby in heavy rain.

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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