# NTSB MIA74AM072: Piper PA-24, N7815P, Pensacola, FL, February 21, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 21, 1974
- Place: Pensacola, FL · PENSACOLA, FL
- Location: 30.4410° N, 87.1912° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pensacola, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4410&lon=-87.1912&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 20, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170297
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA74AM072
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74AM072

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0662  74/2/21    PENSACOLA,FLA       PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 54, 2088
        TIME - 1945                    N7815P              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 175 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PENSACOLA RGNL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BURLINGTON,NC               PENSACOLA,FLA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       71
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          230                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- FCST SVR WX COND.CONT INTO AREA OF SVR TURB AND TSTM ACTIVITY.TORNADO WATCH.RCVRD 2/22/74.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7815P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7815P-1974-06-04), registration cancelled 1974-06-04, S/N 24-3035 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Pensacola Rgnl

## 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 19740221009159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740221009159A), Feb 21, 1974: Piper PA24250, Pensacola, FL, Destroyed. Fcst svr wx cond. Cont into area of svr turb and tstm activity. Tornado watch. Rcvrd 2/22/74.

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.
