# NTSB investigations: Piper PA-28-180: In flight encounter with weather NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB DEN07FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07FA054.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Centennial, WY · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 18, 2007 · N43630 · Substantial damage > the pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions resulting in a loss of aircraft control. Contributing factors include the pilot's improper preflight planning and decision making, the pilot's spatial disorientation, the pilot's lack of night… - [NTSB LAX06LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA068.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Hopland, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 25, 2005 · N3953R · Destroyed > The non-instrument rated pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions and the low clouds. - [NTSB CHI04FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04FA069.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Rich Hill, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 17, 2004 · N7876W · Destroyed > Spatial disorientation experienced by the non-instrument rated pilot due to a lack of visual references and his subsequent failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Contributing factors were the pilot's intentional flight into adverse weather conditions,… - [NTSB ATL04FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA075.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Alma, GA · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 12, 2004 · N6473J · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision, and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in continued VFR flight into IMC and the subsequent collision with trees during approach. - [NTSB LAX04GA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04GA051.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Big Bear City, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Final report · Nov 22, 2003 · N7292W · Destroyed > The pilots inadequate preflight planning and intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions. Contributing to this accident was the fact that it was a dark night with no moon illumination. - [NTSB DEN04FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04FA002.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Teasdale, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 3, 2003 · N7357W · Destroyed > The student pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the student pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions, the low ceiling, the rain, the student… - [NTSB CHI03FA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA246.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Clarkfield, MN · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2003 · N4577T · Destroyed > The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from terrain and his continued VFR flight into IMC during cruise flight. A factor was the low ceilings. - [NTSB LAX02FA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA131.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Three Rivers, CA · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 6, 2002 · N7839W · Destroyed > the pilot's attempt to continue visual flight in instrument meteorological conditions in mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were low ceiling and mountainous terrain. - [NTSB ATL02FA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02FA051.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Vero Beach, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 23, 2002 · N7345W · Destroyed > The flight's encounter with isolated severe to extreme turbulence that resulted in an in-flight breakup of the airplane and subsequent impact with terrain. - [NTSB LAX02LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA066.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Groveland, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 14, 2002 · N3624R · Substantial damage > the pilot's improper preflight planning and improper weather evaluation. - [NTSB SEA99LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA165.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Eatonville, WA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 17, 1999 · N7832N · Substantial damage > Inadequate inflight planning/preparation and terrain clearance not maintained. Mountainous terrain, cloudy conditions and delayed remedial action are factors - [NTSB DEN99LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA156.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Peyton, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 31, 1999 · N5172L · Destroyed > The pilot's loss of control resulting in inadvertent stall/mush during initial climb following takeoff. Factors were the unfavorable, sudden windshift conditions, the high density altitude, and the manufacturer's failure to provide adequate density altitude… - [NTSB ATL99FA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99FA136.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Robbinsville, NC · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 4, 1998 · N2820T · Destroyed > "This case was changed from ATL05FA014." The pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue VFR flight into IMC, which resulted in an in-flight encounter with weather and controlled flight into terrain. Factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning… - [NTSB CHI98LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA036.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Willmar, MN · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 13, 1997 · N8886J · Substantial damage > the pilot's improper planning/decision, his continued flight into known adverse weather, and subsequent fuel exhaustion, which resulted in loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, the… - [NTSB CHI96FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA120.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Lincoln, KS · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 29, 1996 · N8214W · Destroyed > the pilot became spatially disoriented and failed to maintain control of the airplane. The factors involved were the pilot encountered VFR flight into IMC, pressure induced by conditions/events, low ceilings, and the dark light conditions. - [NTSB FTW95FA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95FA222.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Byers, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 30, 1995 · N55114 · Destroyed > The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and the subsequent loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Factors were the low ceilings, the dark night conditions, and the pilot's lack of total instrument time. - [NTSB BFO95FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95FA048.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Louisa, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 30, 1995 · N20LA · Destroyed > the non-instrument rated private pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC and failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain/obstacles. Related factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in IMC operations, his failure to obtain a preflight… - [NTSB ANC93FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93FA067.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Talkeetna, AK · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 12, 1992 · N16275 · Destroyed > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions at night which resulted in a loss of airplane control, spatial disorientation, and an inflight breakup. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the adverse weather and the… - [NTSB CHI92LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA194.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Belmont, WI · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 3, 1992 · N9735J · Destroyed > The pilot's poor planning/decision making. Related factors are the low ceilings and fog, the dark night, the pilot's inaccurate weather evaluation and diverted attention, and the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the higher terrain encountered. - [NTSB LAX91FA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA342.md): Piper PA 28-180 · Reno, NV · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 3, 1991 · N5277L · Destroyed > Failure of the pilot to maintain proper airspeed by employing an excessive angle of attack during the takeoff climb during a go-around resulting in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent inflight loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's poor… - [NTSB SEA91FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91FA144.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Mullan, ID · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 14, 1990 · N4924L · Destroyed > The pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The adverse weather and terrain conditions were related factors. - [NTSB LAX90LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA326.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Mount Wilson, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 19, 1990 · N6528J · Destroyed > The pilot's inadvertent flight into IMC. Contributing factors related to the pilot's failure to request in-flight weather avoidance assistance and his misjudged evaluation of the en route weather. - [NTSB SEA90FA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90FA039.md): Piper PA28-180 · Castle Rock, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 2, 1990 · N8859J · Destroyed > The pilot lost control of the airplane which entered a stall/spin that the pilot did not recover from. - [NTSB NYC89LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA207.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Sanbornton, NH · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 1989 · N9334J · Substantial damage > VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) by the pilot, and his inadequate remedial action to correct the situation. The adverse weather conditions and darkness were related factors. - [NTSB BFO89LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA070.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Clendenin, WV · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 21, 1989 · N7597W · Destroyed > Inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot which resulted in fuel exhaustion. The weather conditions, the pilot's delay in diverting to an alternate airport, and the light pole were contributing factors. - [NTSB CHI89LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA152.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Watertown, WI · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 29, 1989 · N3954R · Substantial damage > Improper planning/decision by the pilot and his misjudgement of distance and speed during the landing, which resulted in failure to attain a proper touchdown point. Contributing factors were: the weather conditions, the pilot's continued flight into… - [NTSB SEA89LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA127.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Snoqualmie Pass, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 30, 1989 · N56759 · Destroyed > Improper in-flight planning/descision by the pilot, which resulted in the aircraft entering a box canyon with insufficient speed and altitude to maneuver out of the confined area. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's continued flight into known… - [NTSB FTW89LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA050.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Seminole, TX · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 14, 1989 · N5258L · Substantial damage > The pilot's delay in updating his weather and diverting to an alternate destination, which resulted in fuel exhaustion from lack of fuel. Contributing factors were: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation at the en route stop, the weather… - [NTSB CHI89LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA045.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Valparaiso, IN · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 14, 1989 · N3331R · Substantial damage > Inadequate preflight preparation by the pilot, which resulted in inadvertent flight in icing conditions and rapid accumulation of airframe ice, and the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to flare during the landing. Factors related to the… - [NTSB LAX89FA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA078.md): Piper PA-28-180 · San Bernardino, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 5, 1989 · N5157L · Destroyed > The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight after encountering instrument meteorological conditions while attempting to transit through a mountain pass. Contributing factors was: the pilot's self-induced pressure knowing that a co-worker was probably waiting… - [NTSB LAX89FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA076.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Wrightwood, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 31, 1988 · N5369L · Substantial damage > According to the passenger, during a cross country flight the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot flew the airplane toward a mountain range and entered a valley with rising terrain. Still in IMC, just prior to the accident,… - [NTSB MIA89LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA046.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean) · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 28, 1988 · N7926N · Destroyed > The student pilot contacted ifss at miami, FL and filed an intl flight plan to the Bahamas. He did not request a weather briefing and none was given. The pilot later contacted controllers and stated that he was in instrument meteorological conditions and… - [NTSB MKC88FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88FA021.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Mena, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 1987 · N9131J · Destroyed > On the day of this accident, there was a well-publicized weather system affecting the weather along the pilot's route: warm moist gulf air was moving northward toward a cold front that extended from Mexico to Canada. Residents in the area said the region had… - [NTSB FTW88FA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA028.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Lancaster, TX · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 14, 1987 · N8980J · Destroyed > The pilot received a weather report indicating that IFR conditions prevailed. After takeoff the airplane traveled approximately 1/2 mile before it crashed. Pilot was not instrument rated and had very little total time. He did have three hours of night time… - [NTSB CHI87LA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA029.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Lansing, IL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 16, 1986 · N2311R · Substantial damage > The plt rprtd he enctrd IFR conds at aprx 400' AGL drg takeoff. He elected to 'fly out of it' & 'was in the clear' afterclbg to 4500' MSL. He elected to return to the arpt & indcd he could see the arpt 'on and off' thru brkn clds. On an apch to lnd, the acft… - [NTSB MKC86FA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86FA195.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Harvard, NE · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 24, 1986 · N7744N · Destroyed > The plt received a wx briefing for a night, business flt. At the time of the briefing a reporting station 22 NM nw of the acdt site had a broken ceiling at 2300 ft with good vis. The acdt occurred about 2 hrs after the briefing less than 2 mi from the… - [NTSB SEA86FA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86FA232.md): Piper PA-28-180 · John Day, OR · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 30, 1986 · N3618R · Destroyed > The non-instrument rated pilots departed hermiston en route to burns, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; however, mountain tops along the route of flight were occasionally obstructed by local cloud layers. During the course of the flight the… - [NTSB ATL86FA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86FA176.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Columbus, GA · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 19, 1986 · N103EF · Substantial damage > Just as the aircraft flared for landing, a gust of wind struck the airport. The pilot and passengers reported that the aircraft ballooned up several feet, and the right wing dipped. The pilot got the wings level and attempted to perform a go-around. The… - [NTSB ATL84FA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA054.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Lexington, TN · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 27, 1983 · N5396L · Destroyed > The acft collided with the ground in a vertical descent during IMC weather on a x-country flt. The plt had filed an IFR flt plan but he was a student with limited experience and was not instrument rated. Also he was carrying a passenger. The controller who… - [NTSB FTW83FA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA254.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Haskell, TX · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 30, 1983 · N5170S · Destroyed > The acft crashed while on a flt in an area where thunderstorm warnings were in effect. There were no known witnesses to the actual crash, but 2 or 3 local residents heard an acft eng at about the estimated time of the accident. One resident about 1/4 mi from… - [NTSB DEN83FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA108.md): Piper 28-180 · Alpine, WY · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 3, 1983 · N7295W · Destroyed > The acft collided with mountainous terrain in IMC weather. The pilot had been briefed on the weather. Part of the observation called for mountain obscuration by clouds or precipitation. A person who resides in Alpine, WY said the mountain tops were obscured… - [NTSB CHI82FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA266.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Hartsburg, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 22, 1982 · N7304W · Destroyed > At 1223 CDT the plt contacted peoria approach control & requested radar vectors to the Mt. Hawley arpt located just northof the peoria arpt. At 1227 CDT he stated the weather was getting bad & he would like to fly to the logan county arpt. One witness stated… - [NTSB LAX82FA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FA084.md): Piper PA-28-180 · Truckee, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 22, 1982 · N3646R · Destroyed > The non-instrument rated pilot was on a return flight from livermore, CA to Truckee. The aircraft crashed on a dark night at an elevation of about 6700 ft MSL in mountainous terrain. The angle of impact was about 25 degrees downward on a down hill slope. A… ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102808') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 240)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=7102808&occurrence=240 --- 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.