# NTSB CHI72AC003: Piper PA-24, N9120P, Philo, IL, July 4, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 4, 1971
- Place: Philo, IL · PHILO, IL
- Location: 40.0033° N, 88.1564° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Philo, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0033&lon=-88.1564&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 162147
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI72AC003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC003

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3526   71/7/4    PHILO,ILL           PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2300                    N9120P              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 28, 1058 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            55 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SIOUX CITY,IOWA             CINCINNATI,OHIO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                           RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO KNOWN TSTM COND. RECOVERY DATE 7/5/71.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9120P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9120P-1971-10-04), registration cancelled 1971-10-04, S/N 24-4599 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Other investigations on N9120P (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 NYC71FHM11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC71FHM11), Dec 15, 1970: Piper PA-24 (N9120P), Hanover, NJ, 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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