# NTSB NYC81FA080: Piper PA-23, N62789, Union Township, PA, September 3, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 3, 1981
- Place: Union Township, PA · UNION TOWNSHIP, PA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC81FA080
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC81FA080

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2016   81/9/3    UNION TOWNSHIP,PA   PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 60, 1362
        TIME - 1600                    N62789              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WILMINGTON,NC               JOHNSTOWN,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       66
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          140                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTR BEING CLEARED FOR APPROACH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N62789 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Johnstown-Cambria

## 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 19810903065679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810903065679A), Sep 3, 1981: Piper PA23250, Union Township, PA, Destroyed. Struck trees inbound for approach to airport. Descended below minimum altitude for initial approach sector.

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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