# NTSB IAD74AI028: Piper PA-23, N1391P, Heaton, NC, November 25, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 25, 1973
- Place: Heaton, NC · HEATON, NC
- Location: 36.1729° N, 81.9426° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Heaton, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1729&lon=-81.9426&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 4, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD74AI028
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74AI028

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3639  73/11/25   HEATON,NC           PIPER PA-23         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 970
        TIME - 1435                    N1391P              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BEECH MOUNTAIN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          POMPANO BEACH,FLA           KNOXVILLE,TENN               SAVANNAH,GA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: WINGTIPS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       55
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WX BRIEFING INCLUDED AIRMET OF SVR TURBC BLO 4000FT OVR MTNS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1391P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1391P-1974-02-15), registration cancelled 1974-02-15, S/N 23-441 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Beech Mountain

## 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 19731125041159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731125041159A), Nov 25, 1973: Piper PA23, Heaton, NC, Destroyed. Wx briefing included AIRMET of svr turbc blo 4000FT ovr mtns.

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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