# NTSB NYC76AN078: Piper PA-23, N7RW, Ludlow, MA, February 12, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: February 12, 1976
- Place: Ludlow, MA · LUDLOW, MA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152551
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC76AN078
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC76AN078

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1384  76/2/12    LUDLOW,MA           PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1324                    N7RW                PX-  0  1  0  OTHER PUBLIC              61, 15374 TOTAL HOURS, 20
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WESTOVER AFB
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WORCESTER,MA                WESTFIELD,MA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FAILURE OF TWO OR MORE ENGINES
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- STRUCK WIRES WHILE MANEUVERING ACFT OVR LINE OF TREES TOWARD AN OPEN CLEARING IN CITY AREA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7RW-1976-06-09), registration cancelled 1976-06-09, S/N 27-3381 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Westover Afb

## 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 19760212030279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760212030279A), Feb 12, 1976: Piper PA23250, Ludlow, MA, Destroyed. Struck wires while maneuvering acft ovr line of trees toward an open clearing in city area.

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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