# NTSB IAD71DIJ13: Piper PA-28, N8986J, Morgantown, WV, December 17, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 17, 1970
- Place: Morgantown, WV · MORGANTOWN, WV
- Location: 39.6375° N, 79.9469° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morgantown, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6375&lon=-79.9469&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 6, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159563
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD71DIJ13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD71DIJ13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4595  70/12/17   MORGANTOWN,W VA     PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 1336
        TIME - 1345                    N8986J              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PITTSBURGH,PA               CHANTILLY,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           SNOW, FREEZING RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- HEAVY ICE ACCUMULATION UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT.HIT TREES CONTD FLT LANDED W/O FURTHER INCIDENT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8986J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8986J), registered now, S/N 28-3009, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

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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