# NTSB CHI72AC069: Piper PA-28, N98038, Walton, KY, March 4, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 4, 1972
- Place: Walton, KY · WALTON, KY
- Location: 38.8624° N, 84.6150° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Walton, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8624&lon=-84.6150&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI72AC069
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC069

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0118   72/3/4    WALTON,KY           PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 39, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1700                    N98038              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BUNNELL,FLA                 HAMILTON,OHIO                COVINGTON,KY
        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 - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          220                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DEPARTED ABOUT 8 HRS PRIOR TO TIME OF ACCDT. OBS SAW ACFT DIVE OUT OF LOW CLDS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98038](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98038-1975-06-11), registration cancelled 1975-06-11, S/N 28-26005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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