# NTSB IAD73AI010: Piper PA-23, N40233, Gatlinburg, TN, April 3, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 3, 1973
- Place: Gatlinburg, TN · GATLINBURG, TN
- Location: 35.7250° N, 83.4937° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gatlinburg, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7250&lon=-83.4937&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 13, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 173576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD73AI010
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD73AI010

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3227   73/4/3  NR.GATLINBURG,TENN    PIPER PA-23         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1155                    N40233              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  32, 10000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CINCINNATI,OHIO            UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          260                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- OBS AT LOW ALT OVER NATL PARK. CLRD MTN RIDGE & FLEW INTO TREES. GUSTING TO 20K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40233](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40233-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 27-7305033 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (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 19730403009379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730403009379A), Apr 3, 1973: Piper PA23, Gatlinburg, TN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. OBS at low alt over natl park. Clrd mtn ridge & flew into trees. Gusting to 20K.

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.