# NTSB MIA71AM089: Piper PA-28, N4853L, Yabucoa, PR, April 18, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 18, 1971
- Place: Yabucoa, PR · YABUCOA,PR, PR
- Location: 18.0456° N, 65.8830° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Yabucoa, PR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.0456&lon=-65.8830&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 11, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 160164
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA71AM089
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71AM089

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0362  71/4/18    YABUCOA,PR          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 25, 145
        TIME - 1500                    N4853L              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 32 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          RAMEY AFB,PR                RETURN                       SAN JUAN,PR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: ATTITUDE GYRO
           WEATHER - RAIN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      80
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           20                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- PLT KNEW GYRO ATTITUDE IND INOP. FLEW INTO HEAVY RAIN SHWR,LOST CTL. CRASHED IN OCEAN. ACFT SANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4853L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4853L-1971-05-14), registration cancelled 1971-05-14, S/N 28-4202 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.