# NTSB NYC72AN073: Piper PA-32, N550XX, Adams, MA, November 28, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 28, 1971
- Place: Adams, MA · ADAMS, MA
- Location: 42.6291° N, 73.1187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Adams, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6291&lon=-73.1187&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 21, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164401
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC72AN073
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN073

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3616  71/11/28   ADAMS,MASS          PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 1500
        TIME - 1423                    N550XX              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WORCESTER,MASS              PONTIAC,MICH
        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 BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE  4/28/72.WX FCST MARGINAL VFR ALONG INTENDED ROUTE OF FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N550XX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N550XX-1972-10-11), registration cancelled 1972-10-11, S/N 327200003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (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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