# NTSB MIA74AM007: Piper PA-28, N15730, Cottondale, FL, July 21, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 21, 1973
- Place: Cottondale, FL · COTTONDALE, FL
- Location: 30.7897° N, 85.3660° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cottondale, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7897&lon=-85.3660&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189604
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA74AM007
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74AM007

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1883  73/7/21  NR.COTTONDALE,FLA     PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 59, 813
        TIME - 1410                    N15730              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 31 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PANAMA CITY,FLA             ATLANTA,GA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- OBS SAW ACFT DIVE OUT OF DARK CLOUD. R WG & R STAB SEPARATED IN FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N15730 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- 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 19730721025599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730721025599A), Jul 21, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Cottondale, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. OBS saw acft dive out of dark cloud. R wg & r stab separated in flt.

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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