# NTSB NYC72AN044: Piper PA-23, N3435P, Lyme Center, NH, September 20, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 20, 1971
- Place: Lyme Center, NH · LYME CENTER, NH
- Location: 43.7992° N, 72.1229° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lyme Center, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7992&lon=-72.1229&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 23, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163499
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC72AN044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2292  71/9/20    LYME CENTER,NH      PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  2  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1916                    N3435P              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  26, 2402 TOTAL HOURS, 0
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PORTLAND,ME                 LEBANON,NH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       63
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BELOW OBSTRUCTING TERRAIN ON VOR APCH.PLT FLYING UNFAMILIAR ACFT FROM R SEAT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3435P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3435P-1971-12-01), registration cancelled 1971-12-01, S/N 23-1402 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (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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