# NTSB IAD78FA073: Piper PA-23, N5421Y, Marion, KY, June 22, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 22, 1978
- Place: Marion, KY · MARION, KY
- Location: 37.3317° N, 88.0812° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marion, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3317&lon=-88.0812&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140858
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA073
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA073

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2787  78/6/22    MARION,KY           PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 23, 4118
        TIME - 0650                    N5421Y              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, 191 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          LOUISVILLE,KY               MAYFIELD,KY                  OWENSBORO,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INCAPACITATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
        REMARKS- WITNESSES OBSERVED CONSTANT-RATE DESCENDING TURN TO GND.SLEEPING AT CTLS,OTHER RECENT FLIGHTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5421Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5421Y-1978-12-08), registration cancelled 1978-12-08, S/N 272499 (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

## 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 19780622032569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780622032569A), Jun 22, 1978: Piper PA23, Marion, KY, Destroyed. Witnesses observed constant-rate descending turn to gnd. Sleeping tls,other recent flights.

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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