# NTSB IAD75AI037: Piper PA-32, N3840W, Laytonsville, MD, December 29, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 29, 1974
- Place: Laytonsville, MD · LAYTONSVILLE, MD
- Location: 39.2089° N, 77.1353° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Laytonsville, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2089&lon=-77.1353&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 5, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD75AI037
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD75AI037

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4251  74/12/29   LAYTONSVILLE,MD     PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 39, 236
        TIME - 1738                    N3840W              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 162 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MONTGOMERY CO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BURLINGTON,VT               GAITHERSBURG,MD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          GROUND FOG                                                47
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          200                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3840W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3840W-1975-06-06), registration cancelled 1975-06-06, S/N 32-777 (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
- Airport: Montgomery Co

## 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 19741229044169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741229044169A), Dec 29, 1974: Piper PA32260, Laytonsville, MD, Substantial damage, 1 fatal

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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