# NTSB NYC73AN121: Piper PA-28, N7816W, Martinsburg, PA, March 7, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 7, 1973
- Place: Martinsburg, PA · MARTINSBURG, PA
- Location: 40.3109° N, 78.3243° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Martinsburg, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3109&lon=-78.3243&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170112
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73AN121
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73AN121

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0142   73/3/7    MARTINSBURG,PA      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 490
        TIME - 1820                    N7816W              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MONTGOMERY,NY               ALTOONA,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       41
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- CRASHED DRG VOR APCH IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7816W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7816W-1974-04-24), registration cancelled 1974-04-24, S/N 28-1824 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730307006499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730307006499A), Mar 7, 1973: Piper PA28180, Martinsburg, PA, Substantial damage. Crashed drg VOR apch in mountainous terrain.

## Other investigations on N7816W (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC71DGM30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC71DGM30), Feb 6, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N7816W), Ebensburg, PA, 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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