# NTSB NYC72FHA22: Piper PA-22, N8538C, Branchville, NJ, October 31, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: October 31, 1971
- Place: Branchville, NJ · BRANCHVILLE, NJ
- Location: 41.1472° N, 74.7490° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Branchville, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1472&lon=-74.7490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 9, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163550
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC72FHA22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72FHA22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2000  71/10/31   BRANCHVILLE,NJ      PIPER PA-22         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 61, 1520
        TIME - 0900                    N8538C              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 350 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SUSSEX,NJ                   HANCOCK,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                                                       61
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- HIT TREES ON OBSCURED MTN TOP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8538C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8538C-1972-01-25), registration cancelled 1972-01-25, S/N 22-1261 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

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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