# NTSB MIA72DKJ45: Piper PA-23, N4959P, Decatur, AL, March 16, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 16, 1972
- Place: Decatur, AL · DECATUR, AL
- Location: 34.6059° N, 86.9833° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Decatur, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6059&lon=-86.9833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 3, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166325
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA72DKJ45
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72DKJ45

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1531  72/3/16    DECATUR,ALA         PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 3013
        TIME - 1445                    N4959P              PX-  0  0  1  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 1870 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PRYOR FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NASHVILLE,TENN              DECATUR,ALA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR RETRACTED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED GEAR
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPONTANEOUS-IMPROPER ACTION
        REMARKS- DURING LDG ROLL PLT REACHED FOR FLAP HANDLE TO RETRACT FLAPS,INSTEAD PULLED GR HANDLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4959P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4959P-1992-01-30), registration cancelled 1992-01-30, S/N 27560 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-235) (registry code 7102306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Pryor Field

## Other investigations on N4959P (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 NYC92FA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92FA047), Dec 14, 1991: Piper PA-23-235 (N4959P), Fall River, MA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW IFR PROCEEDURES AND WAS MANUVERING AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE TERRAIN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE; FATIGUE, FOG AND NO VISUAL GROUND CLUES.

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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