# NTSB IAD73A1001: Piper PA-12, N2454M, Selbyville, DE, March 13, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 13, 1973
- Place: Selbyville, DE · SELBYVILLE, DE
- Location: 38.4609° N, 75.2056° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Selbyville, DE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4609&lon=-75.2056&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD73A1001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD73A1001

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0372  73/3/13    SELBYVILLE,DEL      PIPER PA-12         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 26, 75 TOTAL
        TIME - 1355                    N2454M              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 25 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BAY VIEW ESTATES,DEL        LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
           TERRAIN - SANDY
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- STARTED TKOF RUN ON SANDY BEACH TOWARD HOUSE.UN CLEAR HOUSE,TURNED,HIT DRAGLINE BUCKET.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2454M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2454M-1973-06-26), registration cancelled 1973-06-26, S/N 12-1673 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730313004189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730313004189A), Mar 13, 1973: Piper PA12, Selbyville, DE, Destroyed. Started tkof run on sandy beach toward house. Un clear house,turned,hit dragline bucket.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.