# NTSB OAK74AP034: Beech P35, N1578S, Gilroy, CA, January 18, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 18, 1974
- Place: Gilroy, CA · GILROY, CA
- Location: 37.0064° N, 121.5853° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gilroy, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0064&lon=-121.5853&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74AP034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74AP034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0107  74/1/18  NR.GILROY,CALIF       BEECH P35           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 68, 5100
        TIME - 1727                    N1578S              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COMPTON,CALIF               HOLLISTER,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO STEEP CANYON SLOPE AT NITE. RECOVERY DATE 1/22/74.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1578S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1578S-1974-03-26), registration cancelled 1974-03-26, S/N D-6998, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH P35
- Registry model: [Beech P35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-p35) (registry code 1151530) (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 19740118003079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740118003079A), Jan 18, 1974: Beech P35BEECH, Gilroy, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into steep canyon slope at nite. Recovery date 1/22/74.

## Other investigations on N1578S (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 LAX70FUQ16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70FUQ16), Mar 4, 1970: Beech P35 (N1578S), Goleta, 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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