# NTSB IAD71AI030: Piper PA-24, N7689P, Clarksburg, WV, December 21, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1970
- Place: Clarksburg, WV · CLARKSBURG, WV
- Location: 39.2703° N, 80.3618° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clarksburg, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2703&lon=-80.3618&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 8, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159366
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD71AI030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD71AI030

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2392  70/12/21   CLARKSBURG,W VA     PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 982
        TIME - 1800                    N7689P              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 649 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BENEDUM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          INDIANAPOLIS,IND            CLARKSBURG,W VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  900
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       37
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BELOW PUBLISHED APCH MIN DURING SECOND ATTEMPT. HIT TREES ON HILL.RECOVERY DATE 12/22/70
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7689P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7689P-1971-02-01), registration cancelled 1971-02-01, S/N 24-2899 (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: Benedum

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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