# NTSB MIA74DKJ44: Piper PA-30, N7739Y, Decatur, AL, January 14, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 14, 1974
- 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: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 14, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187156
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA74DKJ44
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA74DKJ44

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0174  74/1/14    DECATUR,ALA         PIPER PA-30         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 2000
        TIME - 1000                    N7739Y              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1210 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PRYOR FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUSCALOOSA,ALA              DECATUR,ALA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- INADVERTENT DSCNT BLO MDA.HIT TELEPHONE WIRES AND POWERLINE APRX 1/4 MI SSW OF RWY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7739Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7739Y-2013-01-08), registration cancelled 2013-01-08, S/N 30-829, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Pryor Field

## 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 19740114002249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740114002249A), Jan 14, 1974: Piper PA30, Decatur, AL, Substantial damage. Inadvertent dscnt blo mda. Hit telephone wires and powerline aprx 1/4 mi ssw of rwy.

## Other investigations on N7739Y (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 MIA66F0078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66F0078), Jul 1, 1965: Piper PA-30 (N7739Y), Shelbyville, TN, substantial damage

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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