# NTSB IAD71AI043: Piper PA-28, Basye, VA, March 17, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: March 17, 1971
- Place: Basye, VA · BASYE, VA
- Location: 38.8094° N, 78.7695° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Basye, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: DirectorBrief, November 2, 1971
- NTSB case key (mKey): 160275
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD71AI043
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD71AI043

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0301  71/3/17    BASYE,VA            PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 118
        TIME - 1950                    N4773L              PX-  0  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 20 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SKY BRYCE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          DAYTONA BEACH,FLA           LEESBURG,VA                  FLORENCE,SC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE IN FLIGHT,CLEAR AIR
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO RIDGE AT NIGHT.HAD DESCENDED DUE TURB.PLT HAD FLOWN 7.6 HRS SINCE DEP ABOUT 9 HRS PRIOR.
```

## Sequence of events

- Enroute-cruise

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4773L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4773L-1971-04-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: SKY BRYCE

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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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.