# NTSB NYC65A0148: Piper PA12, N7773H, Cape Charles, VA, June 14, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 14, 1965
- Place: Cape Charles, VA · CAPE CHARLES, VA
- Location: 37.2508° N, 76.0097° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cape Charles, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2508&lon=-76.0097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 29, 1965
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 178215
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC65A0148
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC65A0148

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0541  65/6/14    CAPE CHARLES VA     PIPER PA12          CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 1200
        TIME - 0700                    N7773H              PX-  0  0  0  FISH SPOTTING             TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY,ATTACHMENTS
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: ELEVATOR AND ELEVATOR TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CORRODED/CORROSION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FRAYED
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT (OWNER-PILOT)
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7773H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7773H-1965-09-03), registration cancelled 1965-09-03, S/N 12-672 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (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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