# NTSB NYC780NE14: Piper J5B, N38569, Harvard, MA, March 11, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 11, 1978
- Place: Harvard, MA · HARVARD, MA
- Location: 42.5001° N, 71.5828° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Harvard, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5001&lon=-71.5828&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC780NE14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC780NE14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0427  78/3/11    HARVARD,MA          PIPER J5B           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 300
        TIME - 1600                    N38569              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SHIRLEY,MA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      35
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON FROZEN LAKE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38569](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38569-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 5-987, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J5B
- Registry model: [Piper J5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5b) (registry code 7100708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&GO-145C series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-go-145c-series) (registry code 41503, 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 19780311003719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780311003719A), Mar 11, 1978: Piper J5B, Harvard, MA, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed on frozen lake.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
