# Accident 20040718024989A: Piper PA32R301T, Wheeling, WV, July 18, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 2004, 23:08 local time
- Place: Wheeling, WV
- Airport: Wheeling-Ohio County Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1744° N, 80.6594° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1744&lon=-80.6594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7710M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7710M-2007-04-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301T (registry code 7103220, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R301T
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540*
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC04FA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA170) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040718024989A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND FROM THE ILS RUNWAY 3 @ KHLG IN DETERIORATING WEATHER. THIRD PARTY FILED FAA FLIGHT PLAN UNDER NAME OF MR. T. HILEMAN AS PILOT IN COMMAND. MR. T. HILEMAN WAS NOT ON BOARD AIRCRAFT. FIRST PILOT OR SECOND PILOT RESPONSIBILITIES UNDETERMINED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC04FA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA170), Jul 19, 2004: Piper PA-32R-301T (N7710M), Wheeling, WV, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while executing an instrument approach. A factor was the night instrument meteorological conditions.

## Other reports on N7710M (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19940314000589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940314000589I), Mar 14, 1994: Piper PA32R301T (N7710M), Atlanta, GA, Minor damage. Narrative: Mr. Thomas stated that he was unable to locate pdk airport and he then requested a radar vector from pdk tower. The vector put him in a position to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
