# NTSB OAK78FVW06: Piper PA-23, N5001Y, Tonopah, NV, December 6, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 6, 1977
- Place: Tonopah, NV · TONOPAH, NV
- Location: 38.0822° N, 117.2246° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tonopah, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0822&lon=-117.2246&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158666
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FVW06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FVW06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3666   77/12/6 NR.TONOPAH,NV         PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  2  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 29,
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N5001Y              PX-  0  0  0  OTHER                     UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- ILLICIT TRANSPORTATION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.HIT HILLSIDE.1 GAL FUEL FOUND IN EXTRA AUX CELL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5001Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5001Y-1978-01-18), registration cancelled 1978-01-18, S/N 27-2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (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 19771206037549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771206037549A), Dec 6, 1977: Piper PA23250, Tonopah, NV, Destroyed. Illicit transportation of a controlled substance. Hit hillside.1 gal fuel found in extra aux cell.

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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