# NTSB NYC80FA005: Piper PA-31, N9277Y, Uniontown, PA, October 9, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 9, 1979
- Place: Uniontown, PA · UNIONTOWN, PA
- Location: 39.8993° N, 79.7245° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Uniontown, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8993&lon=-79.7245&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 19, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133203
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC80FA005
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FA005

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3519   79/10/9 NR.UNIONTOWN,PA       PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 58, 4338
        TIME - 1745                    N9277Y              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CONNELLSVILLE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WEST MUFFLIN,PA             CONNELLSVILLE,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRWAYS FACILITIES: H. FACILITY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       48
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          320                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ADF GND LINE INTMT.VCTRD TO ADF FM N AT 5000FT,CLRD FOR APCH.MIN ALT,PROC TURN 3500FT.MTNTPS OBSCD
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9277Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9277Y-1981-12-17), registration cancelled 1981-12-17, S/N 31368 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (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 19791009043719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791009043719A), Oct 9, 1979: Piper PA31, Uniontown, PA, Destroyed. Indicates pilot received erroneous NDB indication due to facility defect. Hit mountain on outbound. Airplane too low

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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