# NTSB NYC68A0103: Piper PA-28, N4761L, Auburn, ME, February 28, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 28, 1968
- Place: Auburn, ME · AUBURN, ME
- Location: 44.0979° N, 70.2312° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Auburn, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0979&lon=-70.2312&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 9, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 111968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC68A0103
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68A0103

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0451  68/2/28    AUBURN,ME           PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 139
        TIME - 2015                    N4761L              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 17 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - AUBURN-LEWSITON
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       31
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED LOW CLOUDS.FAILED TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE RETURNING TO AIRPORT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4761L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4761L-1968-04-18), registration cancelled 1968-04-18, S/N 28-4092 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Auburn-Lewsiton

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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