# NTSB LAX79FUA06: Piper PA-24, N3444P, Santa Ana, CA, February 25, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: February 25, 1979
- Place: Santa Ana, CA · SANTA ANA, CA
- Location: 33.7368° N, 117.8829° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Ana, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7368&lon=-117.8829&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137535
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FUA06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUA06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0597  79/2/25    SANTA ANA,CA        PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 430
        TIME - 1215                    N3444P              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 77 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ORANGE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MAMMOTH LAKES,CA            SANTA ANA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           COLLIDED WITH: BUILDING(S)                               LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INATTENTIVE TO FUEL SUPPLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3444P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3444P-1982-07-23), registration cancelled 1982-07-23, S/N 24-498 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Orange County

## 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 19790225005879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790225005879A), Feb 25, 1979: Piper PA24250, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. Forced landing due to fuel exhaustion.

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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