# NTSB DIA69F0115: Piper PA-22, N4449A, Franklin, NC, December 1, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 1, 1968
- Place: Franklin, NC · FRANKLIN, NC
- Location: 35.1794° N, 83.3807° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Franklin, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1794&lon=-83.3807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 191760
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DIA69F0115
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69F0115

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4295   68/12/1   FRANKLIN,NC         PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 285
        TIME - 1430                    N4449A              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 90 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FRANKLIN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LOW ON FUEL. DESCENDED INTO ADVERSE WEA TO LOCATE AIRPORT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4449A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4449A-1972-04-10), registration cancelled 1972-04-10, S/N 22-3781 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Franklin

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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