# NTSB IAD78FA061: Beech C23, N24617, The Plains, VA, May 13, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 13, 1978
- Place: The Plains, VA · THE PLAINS, VA
- Location: 38.8622° N, 77.7742° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of The Plains, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8622&lon=-77.7742&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 1, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141886
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA061
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA061

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1186  78/5/13  NR.THE PLAINS,VA      BEECH C23           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 1572
        TIME - 1700                    N24617              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 48 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ANNAPOLIS,MD                LEESBURG,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- AIRMET STATED FLT PRECAUTIONS FOR IFR CONDS.BLOOD ALCOHOL LVL 0.07%.HIT MTN APRX 1300FT MSL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24617](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24617-1978-05-13), registration cancelled 1978-05-13, S/N M-1423, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19780513017719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780513017719A), May 13, 1978: Beech C23, The Plains, VA, Destroyed. AIRMET stated flt precautions for IFR conds. Blood alcohol lvl 0.0IT mtn aprx 1300FT MSL.

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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