# NTSB IAD72AI003: Piper PA-28, N5298L, St.Michaels, MD, July 20, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 20, 1971
- Place: St.Michaels, MD · ST.MICHAELS, MD
- Location: 38.7918° N, 76.2206° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Michaels, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7918&lon=-76.2206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 28, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 162082
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD72AI003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD72AI003

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1382  71/7/20    ST.MICHAELS,MD      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 210
        TIME - 2038                    N5298L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          OCEAN CITY,MD               RETURN                       COLLEGE PARK,MD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        REMARKS- DARK NITE,SPARSELY LTD AREA. CRASHED IN SWAMP. RECOVERY DATE 8/14/71.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5298L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5298L-1971-10-04), registration cancelled 1971-10-04, S/N 28-4600 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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