# NTSB NYC73AN131: Piper PA-32, N4237R, Coraopolis, PA, April 10, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 10, 1973
- Place: Coraopolis, PA · CORAOPOLIS, PA
- Location: 40.5146° N, 80.1618° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Coraopolis, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5146&lon=-80.1618&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 8, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73AN131
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73AN131

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0599  73/4/10    CORAOPOLIS,PA       PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 57, 20000
        TIME - 1653                    N4237R              PX-  0  3  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1425 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GREATER PITTSBURG
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STATE COLLEGE,PA            CORAOPOLIS,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BLO MDA ON NO G/S APCH.SNOW SHWRS IN APCH ZONE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4237R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4237R-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 32-40602, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Greater Pittsburg

## 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 19730410010079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730410010079A), Apr 10, 1973: Piper PA32RT300, Coraopolis, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Descended blo mda on no g/s apch. Snow shwrs in apch zone.

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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