# NTSB LAX78FA051: Piper PA-31, N59839, Los Angeles, CA, May 30, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 30, 1978
- Place: Los Angeles, CA · LOS ANGELES, CA
- Location: 34.0522° N, 118.2437° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Los Angeles, CA, within about 12 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0522&lon=-118.2437&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142130
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA051
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA051

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2441  78/5/30    LOS ANGELES,CA      PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0804                    N59839              PX-  0  1  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            24, 2810 TOTAL HOURS, 51
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LOS ANGELES INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA ANA,CA                LOS ANGELES,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - VORTEX TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
        REMARKS- 5KT TAILWIND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59839](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59839-1981-06-16), registration cancelled 1981-06-16, S/N 31-7612048 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Los Angeles Intl

## 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 19780530027059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780530027059A), May 30, 1978: Piper PA31T1, Los Angeles, CA, Destroyed. 5KT tailwind.

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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