# NTSB DIA69D0083: Piper PA-15, N4542H, Grayson County, VA, September 7, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 7, 1968
- Place: Grayson County, VA · GRAYSON COUNTY, VA
- Location: 36.6565° N, 81.2249° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grayson County, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6565&lon=-81.2249&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 108375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DIA69D0083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69D0083

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3287   68/9/7    GRAYSON COUNTY,VA   PIPER PA-15         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 18, 245
        TIME - 1800                    N4542H              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 240 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      70
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- DENSITY ALT ABOUT 5000 FT. PLT LANDED IN TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4542H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4542H), registered now, S/N 15-316, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-15
- Registry model: [Piper PA-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15) (registry code 7101502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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