# NTSB MKC69A0025: Piper PA-23, N6515Y, Colby, KS, October 15, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 15, 1968
- Place: Colby, KS · COLBY, KS
- Location: 39.3833° N, 101.0460° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Colby, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3833&lon=-101.0460&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192093
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC69A0025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69A0025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4607  68/10/15   COLBY,KANS          PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 46, 6000
        TIME - 2104                    N6515Y              PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 400 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - COLBY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          150                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- MAIL FLT.PLT FAILED TO ADHERE TO IFR CLEARANCE.PENETRATED KNOWN THUNDERSTORM AREA.NITE FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6515Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6515Y-1969-02-17), registration cancelled 1969-02-17, S/N 27-3806, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Colby

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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