# NTSB DIA69A0012: Piper PA-24, N6537P, Rocky Gap, VA, September 10, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 10, 1968
- Place: Rocky Gap, VA · ROCKY GAP, VA
- Location: 37.2410° N, 81.1075° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rocky Gap, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2410&lon=-81.1075&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 107851
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DIA69A0012
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69A0012

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3598  68/9/10    ROCKY GAP,VA        PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 325
        TIME - 1445                    N6537P              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 55 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: OTHER
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- RT WG OUTER PANEL FAILED,SEPARATED. PLT BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 210 MG PCT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6537P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6537P-1970-09-24), registration cancelled 1970-09-24, S/N 24-1659, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (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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