# NTSB IAD76DLQ15: Piper PA-23, N400BB, Banner Elk, NC, March 12, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1976
- Place: Banner Elk, NC · BANNER ELK, NC
- Location: 36.1590° N, 81.8678° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Banner Elk, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1590&lon=-81.8678&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 22, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153591
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD76DLQ15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76DLQ15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3204  76/3/12  NR.BANNER ELK,NC      PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1400                    N400BB              PX-  0  0  1  CORP/EXEC                 34, 7786 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            2410 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HICKORY,NC                  LOUISVILLE,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SKIN AND ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BUCKLED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  9000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- PERMANENT WRINKLES TO BOTH WING LEADING EDGES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N400BB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400BB-1981-05-15), registration cancelled 1981-05-15, S/N 27-7405246, built 1973 (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: 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 19760312029599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760312029599A), Mar 12, 1976: Piper PA23250, Banner Elk, KY, Substantial damage. Permanent wrinkles to both wing leading edges.

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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