# NTSB FTW76AF084: Piper PA-23, N5424Y, Princeton, TX, April 16, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 16, 1976
- Place: Princeton, TX · PRINCETON, TX
- Location: 33.1845° N, 96.5094° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Princeton, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1845&lon=-96.5094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154223
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76AF084
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF084

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2588  76/4/16  NR.PRINCETON,TX       PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 59, 8187
        TIME - 1455                    N5424Y              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1101 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAVON NORTH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCKWALL,TX                 CHANUTE,KS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       67
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          160                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT THOUGHT FLT ATTITUDE IND WAS MALFUNCTIONING FROM PRIOR FLT, DIDN'T TRUST IT ENOUGH TO USE IT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5424Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5424Y-1977-11-16), registration cancelled 1977-11-16, S/N 272502 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Lavon North

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19760416031239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760416031239A), Apr 16, 1976: Piper PA23250, Princeton, TX, Destroyed. Plt thought flt attitude ind was malfunctioning from prior flt, didn't trust it enough to use it.

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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