# NTSB NYC78FA032: Piper PA-23, N40355, Connellsville, PA, March 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1978
- Place: Connellsville, PA · CONNELLSVILLE, PA
- Location: 40.0159° N, 79.5896° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Connellsville, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0159&lon=-79.5896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143417
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA032

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1575  78/3/12    CONNELLSVILLE,PA    PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 738
        TIME - 1520                    N40355              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NORWOOD,MA                  CHARLESTON,WV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE, RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40355](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40355-2011-02-14), registration cancelled 2011-02-14, S/N 27-7305114, built 1973 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Connellsville

## 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 19780312020489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780312020489A), Mar 12, 1978: Piper PA23250, Connellsville, PA, Destroyed

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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