# Accident 20231114019009A: Piper PA-28-180, November 14, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 14, 2023, 14:15 local time
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.5258° N, 82.2831° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5258&lon=-82.2831&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7806W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7806W-2025-09-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 66 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA036) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231114019009A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED KISSIMMISSEE AIRPORT (ISM) IN ACFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ABOUT 1245 ON NOVEMBER 14 2023 HEADING NORTH/NORWEST TO GAINESVILLE AIPORT (GNS). ABOUT AN HOUR INTO THE FLIGHT AS THE PILOT HEADED WEST TOWARD GAINESVILLE, ADS-B DATA REFLECTS ERRATIC MANEUVERS IN AIRSPEED, ALTITUDE AND DIRECTION. THE PILOT REPORTED MAYDAY AND STATED HE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING.  THE PILOT WAS COMMUNICATING ON THE EMERGENCY CALL SIGNAL WITH JAX CONTROLLER.  THE CONTROLLER TRIED TO ASSIST THE PILOT WITH HIS LOCATION, AND HEADING BUT THE PILOT STATED HIS DG WAS SPINNING AND HE LOST ALL INSTUMENTS AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED WITH ERRATIC MOVEMENTS OF ALTITUDE, AIRSPEED AND DIRECTION.  THE CONTROLLER LOST CONTACT WITH THE PILOT AND AIRCRAFT ABOUT 2:10PM AND THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 650 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE LAST ADS-B DATA POINT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS DECEASED UPON IMPACT.  THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE AIRPLANE WAS INTACT PRIOR TO IMPACT AND THE AIRCAFT ENGINE AND PROPELLER IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 4 FEET.  THE WRECKAGE SPREAD WAS MINIMAL AND THE DAMAGE EVIDENCED INDICATED HIGH SPEED/HIGH ALTITUDE CRASH. THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS FOUND WITH THE PILOT'S BELONGINGS INDICATED THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE AIRPLANE ON OCTOBER 31, 2023, ALTHOUGH THE BILL OF SALE OR UPDATED REGISTRATION WAS NOT ON FILE WITH THE ACFT REGISTRY.  THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS INDICATED A PREBUY INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON 05/11/2023 WHICH INDICATED THE ACFT WAS NOT CERTIFIED IFR AND NOTED AND THE ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS DUE ON OCTOBER 31 2023. THE ACFT LOGBOOKS DID NOT REFLECT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED SINCE OCTOBER 28 2022.  REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NTSB AND PIPER ACFT PERFORMED A TEARDOWN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE ON NOVEMBER 17 2023 AND NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

AIRMAN RECORDS/PILOT RECORDS REFLECTED THE PILOT HAD APPROX 66 TOTOAL HOURS HOURS, WHICH INCLUDED 1 HOURS OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHTS.  THE PILOT ALSO RECORDED 2 HOURS OF INSTRUMENT SIMULATOR TRAINING.

## 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 ERA24FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA036), Nov 14, 2023: Piper PA-28-180 (N7806W), Micanopy, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument-rated pilot’s improper inflight decision making and his flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane…

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.

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