# NTSB NYC73AN128: Piper PA-24, N8738P, Nixon, PA, March 31, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 31, 1973
- Place: Nixon, PA · NIXON, PA
- Location: 40.7858° N, 79.9375° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nixon, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7858&lon=-79.9375&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 17, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73AN128
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73AN128

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0424  73/3/31    NIXON,PA            PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 1265
        TIME - 1358                    N8738P              PX-  1  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 205 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BUTLER-GRAHAM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PITTSBURG,PA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED SPEED AND ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8738P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8738P-1974-04-25), registration cancelled 1974-04-25, S/N 24-4189 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Butler-Graham

## 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 19730331007379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730331007379A), Mar 31, 1973: Piper PA24260, Nixon, PA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. #5 Cyl exhaust valve stem broke

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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