# NTSB LAX79FA018: Piper PA-32, N4987F, Los Angeles, CA, December 20, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 20, 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 April 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137996
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA018
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA018

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4208  78/12/20   LOS ANGELES CA      PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 2165
        TIME - 1954                    N4987F              PX-  0  0  1  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, 125 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LOS ANGELES INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BURBANK CA                  LOS ANGELES CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS - VORTEX TURBULENCE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4987F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4987F-1989-07-26), registration cancelled 1989-07-26, S/N 32R7680495 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (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 19781220045069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781220045069A), Dec 20, 1978: Piper PA32RT300, Los Angeles Ca, CA, Destroyed

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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