# NTSB MKC68F0559: Piper PA-23, N3287P, Thornton, IA, April 22, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 22, 1968
- Place: Thornton, IA · THORNTON, IA
- Location: 42.9442° N, 93.3870° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Thornton, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9442&lon=-93.3870&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 110751
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC68F0559
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC68F0559

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1114  68/4/22    THORNTON,IOWA       PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 1000
        TIME - 2030                    N3287P              PX-  0  2  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 290 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3287P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3287P-1971-09-20), registration cancelled 1971-09-20, S/N 231235 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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