# NTSB IAD78FA008: Piper PA-23, N5250Y, Morganton, NC, October 27, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 27, 1977
- Place: Morganton, NC · MORGANTON, NC
- Location: 35.7408° N, 81.7003° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Morganton, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7408&lon=-81.7003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 30, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144131
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3935  77/10/27   MORGANTON,NC        PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 56, 1984
        TIME - 1933                    N5250Y              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 128 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MORGANTON LENOIR
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LEXINGTON,NC                MORGANTON,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- NO APPROACH CHARTS FOR MRN.OBTAINED APCH DATA FRM ATC.CRASHED DRG 2ND APCH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5250Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5250Y-1978-03-03), registration cancelled 1978-03-03, S/N 272305 (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: Destroyed
- Airport: Morganton Lenoir

## 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 19771027042629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771027042629A), Oct 27, 1977: Piper PA23250, Morganton, NC, Destroyed. No approach charts for mrn. Obtained apch data frm ATC.crashed drg 2nd apch.

## Other investigations on N5250Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI65F0171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI65F0171), Mar 24, 1965: Piper PA-23 (N5250Y), Negaunee, MI, substantial damage

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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