# NTSB IAD74DKM40: Piper PA-32, N56508, Cherokee, NC, February 16, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: February 16, 1974
- Place: Cherokee, NC · CHEROKEE, NC
- Location: 35.4859° N, 83.3011° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cherokee, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4859&lon=-83.3011&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 15, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186973
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD74DKM40
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74DKM40

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0326  74/2/16    CHEROKEE,NC         PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 235
        TIME - 1600                    N56508              PX-  0  0  6  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 130 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COLUMBUS,MISS               SEVIERVILLE,TENN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                      40
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           16                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ENCTRD SVR DWNDRAFT,UN CHECK DESCENT.INTENTIONAL STALL AT TREE TOP LEVEL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56508](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56508-1977-06-09), registration cancelled 1977-06-09, S/N 32-7300064 (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: Substantial damage

## 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 19740216003609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740216003609A), Feb 16, 1974: Piper PA32260, Cherokee, NC, Substantial damage. Enctrd svr dwndraft,un check descent. Intentional stall at tree top level.

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.

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