# NTSB NYC81FA012: Piper PA-20, N7453K, East Berlin, PA, November 26, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 26, 1980
- Place: East Berlin, PA · EAST BERLIN, PA
- Location: 39.9368° N, 76.9795° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of East Berlin, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9368&lon=-76.9795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80062
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FA012
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FA012

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3206  80/11/26 NR.EAST BERLIN,PA     PIPER PA-20         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 208
        TIME - 0900                    N7453K              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 62 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FREDRICKSBURG,VA            WILLIAMSPORT,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: BRACING WIRES,STRUTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        REMARKS- R WING STRUT LWR FORK ASSY,PN 14481-00,FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7453K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7453K-1983-02-02), registration cancelled 1983-02-02, S/N 20-364 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20) (registry code 7102002) (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 19801126088369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801126088369A), Nov 26, 1980: Piper PA20, East Berlin, PA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Wing strut attach fitting failed in fatigue. Wing came off in flight. Strut not placarded by ap per directive.

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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