# NTSB SEA73AS015: Piper PA-28, Bend, OR, November 26, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: November 26, 1972
- Place: Bend, OR · BEND, OR
- Location: 44.0582° N, 121.3153° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bend, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: DirectorBrief, December 13, 1973
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163301
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA73AS015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73AS015

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3821  72/11/26 NR.BEND,OREG          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 232
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N4447J              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 120 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BEND,OREG                   PALO ALTO,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          300                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- RAINSHOWERS SOUTH OF BEND,MTN TOPS OBSCURED.RECOVERED 10/6/73,40MI SOUTH OF BEND.
```

## Sequence of events

- Uncontrolled descent

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4447J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4447J-2004-03-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Damage: Substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.