# NTSB IAD74AI064: Piper PA-32, N3764W, Hayesville, NC, May 26, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 26, 1974
- Place: Hayesville, NC · HAYESVILLE, NC
- Location: 35.0450° N, 83.8179° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hayesville, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0450&lon=-83.8179&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128141
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD74AI064
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74AI064-128141

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1843  74/5/26  NR.HAYESVILLE,NC      PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 1600
        TIME - 1610                    N3764W              PX-  1  1  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 160 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ASHEVILLE,NC                ANDREWS,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- CRUISE CLNC TO ARPT WITHOUT APRVD/PRESCRIBED PROCEDURE.DESCENDED BLO MEA/MOCA WHILE IN CLOUDS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3764W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3764W-1974-08-13), registration cancelled 1974-08-13, S/N 32-684, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (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 19740526019519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740526019519A), May 26, 1974: Piper PA32260, Hayesville, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Cruise clnc to arpt without aprvd/prescribed procedure. Descended blo mea/moca while in clouds.

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.