# NTSB OAK73DXQ25: Piper PA-24, N140M, Benton, CA, March 13, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 13, 1973
- Place: Benton, CA · BENTON, CA
- Location: 37.8224° N, 118.4877° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Benton, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8224&lon=-118.4877&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169812
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73DXQ25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DXQ25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0444  73/3/13    BENTON,CALIF        PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1000                    N140M               PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 53, 4493 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            700 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BISHOP,CALIF                LAKEVIEW,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INTENTIONAL WHEELS-UP
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                      45
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           40                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- DETERIORATING WEA AT MTN PASS. TURNED AROUND TOO LATE. LND ON ROAD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N140M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N140M-1974-04-22), registration cancelled 1974-04-22, S/N 24-670 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (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 19730313005169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730313005169A), Mar 13, 1973: Piper PA24250, Benton, CA, Destroyed. Deteriorating wea at mtn pass. Turned around too late. Lnd on road.

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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