# NTSB OAK74AP027: Navion A, N4582K, Firebaugh, CA, December 31, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 31, 1973
- Place: Firebaugh, CA · FIREBAUGH, CA
- Location: 36.8511° N, 120.4526° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Firebaugh, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8511&lon=-120.4526&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 15, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187457
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74AP027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74AP027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3947  73/12/31 NR.FIREBAUGH,CALIF    NAVION A            CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 500
        TIME - 1815                    N4582K              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 423 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BAHIA KENO,MEX              MONTEREY,CALIF               BAKERSFIELD,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        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
          FOG                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RCVRD 1/3/74.MOUNTAINS OBSCURED-MARGINAL VFR NORTH OF BAKERSFIELD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4582K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4582K-1974-03-08), registration cancelled 1974-03-08, S/N NAV-4-1582, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVION A
- Registry model: [Ryan NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-navion-a) (registry code 6150162) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (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 19731231042269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731231042269A), Dec 31, 1973: Navion NAVIONA, Firebaugh, CA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Rcvrd 1/3/74.mountains obscured-marginal VFR north of bakersfield.

## Other investigations on N4582K (1)

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.

- [NTSB UNK64X2033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2033), May 30, 1964: Navion NAV4 (N4582K), Placentia, CA, substantial damage

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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