# NTSB IAD71AI045: Piper PA-28, Delco, NC, March 25, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: March 25, 1971
- Place: Delco, NC · DELCO, NC
- Location: 34.3188° N, 78.2267° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Delco, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: DirectorBrief, November 3, 1971
- NTSB case key (mKey): 160273
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD71AI045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD71AI045

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0299  71/3/25    DELCO,NC            PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 230
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N3645K              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          NEW HAVEN,CONN              MIAMI,FLA                    EDENTON,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           DRIZZLE, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO DETERIORATING WEA. HIT TREE 60 FT AGL. RECOVERY DATE 3/28/71.
```

## Sequence of events

- Enroute-cruise

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3645K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3645K-1971-09-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Damage: Substantial damage

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.