# NTSB NYC66A0018: Piper PA-23, N4778P, Union Bridge, MD, August 4, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 4, 1965
- Place: Union Bridge, MD · UNION BRIDGE, MD
- Location: 39.5709° N, 77.1727° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Union Bridge, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5709&lon=-77.1727&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 27, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 176748
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC66A0018
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66A0018

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-1112   65/8/4    UNION BRIDGE MD     PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 39, 565
        TIME - 1945                    N4778P              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 360 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           LIGHTNING STRIKE                                         IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - LIGHTNING STRIKE
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - FUSELAGE: WINDSHIELDS,WINDOWS,CANOPIES
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           74                                                      140
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           8                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LIGHTNING STRIKE ON ACFT IMMEDIATLY BFOR CRASH,WAS WITNESSED BY GROUND OBSERVERS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4778P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4778P-1965-09-07), registration cancelled 1965-09-07, S/N 27-326, built 1960 (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

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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