# NTSB NYC74AN108: Beech 23, N8717M, Sparta, NJ, June 7, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 7, 1974
- Place: Sparta, NJ · SPARTA, NJ
- Location: 41.0334° N, 74.6385° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sparta, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0334&lon=-74.6385&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126378
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC74AN108
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC74AN108

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1529   74/6/7    SPARTA,NJ           BEECH 23            CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 3300
        TIME - 2120                    N8717M              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 140 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CINCINNATI,OHIO             TETERBORO,NJ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      59
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           60                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 12/9/74.HILLS OBSCURED BY CLDS.HIT TREES ON HILL APRX 1280MSL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8717M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8717M-1975-05-21), registration cancelled 1975-05-21, S/N M-501 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 23
- Registry model: [Beech 23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-23) (registry code 1151202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19740607017749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740607017749A), Jun 7, 1974: Beech 23BEECH, Sparta, NJ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Recovery date 12/9/74.hills obscured by clds. Hit trees on hill aprx 1280MSL.

## Other investigations on N8717M (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 UNK65X0323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0323), Oct 18, 1964: Beechcraft 23 (N8717M), Kearney, NE, 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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