# NTSB NYC78FA095: Piper PA-31, N63731, Granville, MA, September 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 18, 1978
- Place: Granville, MA · GRANVILLE, MA
- Location: 42.0668° N, 72.8615° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Granville, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0668&lon=-72.8615&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 2, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139411
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA095
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA095

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3906  78/9/18    GRANVILLE,MA        PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1042                    N63731              PX-  1  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            34, 6500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          PONTIAC,MI                  RETURN                       WESTFIELD,MA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      52
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT COLLIDED WITH HILL. ACFT WRECKAGE FOR 500 FT.WX AT SCENE RPTD FOG & RAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63731](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63731-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N 31-7752054, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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

## 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 19780918043599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780918043599A), Sep 18, 1978: Piper PA31T1, Granville, MA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Acft collided with hill. Acft wreckage for 500 ft. wx at scene rptg & rain.

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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