# NTSB MIA74AM034: Piper PA-28R, N15482, Fort Pierce, FL, October 18, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 18, 1973
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL · FORT PIERCE, FL
- Location: 27.4256° N, 80.3404° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Pierce, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4256&lon=-80.3404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 13, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188234
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA74AM034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74AM034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3213  73/10/18 NR.FORT PIERCE,FLA    PIPER PA-28R        CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 58, 1250
        TIME - 0722                    N15482              PX-  0  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MIAMI,FLA                   CHARLOTTE,NC                 BRUNSWICK,GA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        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
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO CLOUDS ENROUTE,LOST CTL.R OUTBD WG & TAIL SEPARATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15482](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15482-1974-01-16), registration cancelled 1974-01-16, S/N 28R-7335062, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19731018037789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731018037789A), Oct 18, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Fort Pierce, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into clouds enroute,lost ctl.r outbd wg & tail separated.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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