# NTSB NYC77FA005: Piper PA-28, N4189J, Frenchville, PA, October 17, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 17, 1976
- Place: Frenchville, PA · FRENCHVILLE, PA
- Location: 41.1017° N, 78.2252° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Frenchville, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1017&lon=-78.2252&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 3, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156451
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC77FA005
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FA005

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3392  76/10/17 NR.FRENCHVILLE,PA     PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 55, 85 TOTAL
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N4189J              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 47 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCHESTER,NY                MONONGAHELA,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           RAIN, SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- SP NOT ENDORSED FOR NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4189J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4189J-1977-03-18), registration cancelled 1977-03-18, S/N 28-22529, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (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 19761017041279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761017041279A), Oct 17, 1976: Piper PA28140, Frenchville, PA, Destroyed. Sp not endorsed for night cross-country flt.

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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