# NTSB NYC72AN036: Piper PA-28, N5923U, Princeton, NJ, September 6, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 6, 1971
- Place: Princeton, NJ · PRINCETON, NJ
- Location: 40.3582° N, 74.6667° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Princeton, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3582&lon=-74.6667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 18, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163936
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC72AN036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3382   71/9/6    PRINCETON,NJ        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 90 TOTAL
        TIME - 2035                    N5923U              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 1 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FARMINGDALE,NJ              FLANDERS,NJ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       73
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT CRASHED IN WOODED AREA AT NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5923U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5923U-1971-12-07), registration cancelled 1971-12-07, S/N 28-26409, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (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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