# NTSB MIA74AM053: Piper PA-30, N8546Y, Charleston, SC, January 1, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 1, 1974
- Place: Charleston, SC · CHARLESTON, SC
- Location: 32.7766° N, 79.9309° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Charleston, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7766&lon=-79.9309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 6, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187196
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA74AM053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74AM053

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0139   74/1/1    CHARLESTON,SC       PIPER PA-30         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 568
        TIME - 2003                    N8546Y              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 68 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHARLESTON MUN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST PETERSBURG,FLA           CHARLESTON,SC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       62
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          200                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- ACFT TURNED R TO FINAL COURSE STARTED STEEP DSCNT CONT TILL ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8546Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8546Y-1974-03-12), registration cancelled 1974-03-12, S/N 30-1610 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Charleston Mun

## 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 19740101001139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740101001139A), Jan 1, 1974: Piper PA30, Charleston, SC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Acft turned r to final course started steep dscnt cont till acft disappeared from radar.

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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