# NTSB IAD71DKM20: Piper PA-28, N5488W, Spruce Pine, NC, December 13, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 13, 1970
- Place: Spruce Pine, NC · SPRUCE PINE, NC
- Location: 35.9140° N, 82.0697° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spruce Pine, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9140&lon=-82.0697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 27, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159666
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD71DKM20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD71DKM20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4411  70/12/13   SPRUCE PINE,NC      PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 95 TOTAL
        TIME - 1030                    N5488W              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 6 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - AVERY COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AUGUSTA,GA                  BEECH MOUNTAIN NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF BRAKES AND/OR FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT CROSS WIND 248-292 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- FAILED TO RETRACT FLAPS ON TOUCHDOWN. WIND GUSTING 25 K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5488W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Avery County

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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