# NTSB NYC66A0056: Piper PA-23, N4970P, Covington, VA, November 12, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 12, 1965
- Place: Covington, VA · COVINGTON, VA
- Location: 37.7811° N, 79.9854° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Covington, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7811&lon=-79.9854&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 12, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 174945
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC66A0056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66A0056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0952  65/11/12 NR.COVINGTON VA       PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1645                    N4970P              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  AGE 58, 7200 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       51
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4970P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4970P-1966-01-26), registration cancelled 1966-01-26, S/N 27-571 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-235) (registry code 7102306) (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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