# NTSB DIA69A0049: Piper PA-24, N6788P, Rapidan, VA, March 20, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1969
- Place: Rapidan, VA · RAPIDAN, VA
- Location: 38.3126° N, 78.0658° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rapidan, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3126&lon=-78.0658&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 5, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 185241
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DIA69A0049
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69A0049

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2427  69/3/20    RAPIDAN,VA          PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 638
        TIME - 1041                    N6788P              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ORANGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANCASTER,PA                SAVANNAH,GA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LATERAL IMBALANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLUTTER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOOSE,PART/FITTING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- UNBALANCED STABILATOR CAUSED FLUTTER,LOWER CONTROL PULLY FAILED,LOOSE CABLE,STABILATOR TIPS FAILED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6788P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6788P-1970-06-26), registration cancelled 1970-06-26, S/N 24-1920 (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
- Airport: Orange

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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