# NTSB SEA74AS027: Piper PA-31, N66798, Walla Walla, WA, December 27, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 27, 1973
- Place: Walla Walla, WA · WALLA WALLA, WA
- Location: 46.0670° N, 118.3370° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Walla Walla, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0670&lon=-118.3370&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187396
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA74AS027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74AS027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3979  73/12/27   WALLA WALLA,WASH    PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1707                    N66798              PX-  0  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 AGE 50, 25000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 529 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WALLA WALLA CNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPOKANE,WASH                WALLA WALLA,WASH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       33
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DESCENT BELOW MDA.NIGHT IFR APCH.SINGLE PILOTED ACFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66798](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66798-1974-03-08), registration cancelled 1974-03-08, S/N 31P-7300158 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31p) (registry code 7103120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Walla Walla Cnty

## 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 19731227042259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731227042259A), Dec 27, 1973: Piper PA31P, Walla Walla, WA, Destroyed. Descent below mda. Night IFR apch. Single piloted acft.

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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