# NTSB NYC73FHM21: Piper PA-28, N7976N, Middletown, NY, January 28, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: January 28, 1973
- Place: Middletown, NY · MIDDLETOWN, NY
- Location: 41.4449° N, 74.4236° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Middletown, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4449&lon=-74.4236&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170402
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73FHM21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73FHM21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0611  73/1/28    MIDDLETOWN,NY       PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 1300
        TIME - 1645                    N7976N              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 31 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANCASTER,PA                MANCHESTER,NH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          DVFR
        REMARKS- ENCTRD ICE COND,CONT FLT.DUE ACFT ICE LWR ALT RQSDD,UN CK DSCNT,DSCNDD INTO TREES.NOT DEICER EQPD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7976N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7976N-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N 28-5398, built 1969 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19730128003589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730128003589A), Jan 28, 1973: Piper PA28180, Middletown, NY, Substantial damage. Enctrd ice cond,cont flt. Due acft ice lwr alt rqsdd,un ck dscnt,dscndd into trees. Not deicer eqpd.

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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