# NTSB DEN73AD029: Piper PA-32, N8915N, Kearney, NE, December 28, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 28, 1972
- Place: Kearney, NE · KEARNEY, NE
- Location: 40.7017° N, 99.0823° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kearney, NE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7017&lon=-99.0823&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169775
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN73AD029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73AD029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4137  72/12/28 NR.KEARNEY,NEBR       PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 300
        TIME - 1930                    N8915N              PX-  6  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 15 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DENVER,COLO                 OMAHA,NEBR
        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)
           PERSONNEL - WEATHER PERSONNEL: INCORRECT WEATHER FORECAST
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: ISSUED IMPROPER OR CONFLICTING INSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WEA FCST INACCURATE. ARTCC CNTRLR INFLUENCED PLT DECISION BY PROVIDING ERRONEOUS WEA INFO.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8915N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8915N-1973-06-27), registration cancelled 1973-06-27, S/N 32-40705 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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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