# NTSB NYC73AN087: Piper PA-23, N5811Y, Allentown, PA, December 20, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 20, 1972
- Place: Allentown, PA · ALLENTOWN, PA
- Location: 40.5936° N, 75.4784° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Allentown, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5936&lon=-75.4784&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169330
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73AN087
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73AN087

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3749  72/12/20   ALLENTOWN,PA        PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 2150                    N5811Y              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            46, 6665 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1113 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ALLENTOWN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          WASHINGTON,DC               ROCHESTER,NY                 ALLENTOWN,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       36
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
            5                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- DEVIATED TO R OF ILS CENTERLINE AND DESCENDED BLO MDA. HIT PWR LINES AND TREES. PLTS 2ND ATTEMPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5811Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5811Y-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 27-2947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Allentown

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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