# NTSB ANC79FA023: Piper PA-32, N3976X, Mc Grath, AK, November 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: November 29, 1978
- Place: Mc Grath, AK · MC GRATH, AK
- Location: 62.9564° N, 155.5958° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of McGrath, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9564&lon=-155.5958&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138094
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC79FA023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79FA023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4363  78/11/29   MC GRATH,AK         PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 25, 1580
        TIME - 1842                    N3976X              PX-  0  3  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 8 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MC GRATH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MC GRATH,AK                 MC GRATH,AK                  TATALINA,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION
           PERSONNEL - OPERATIONAL SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT CREW
           PERSONNEL - OPERATIONAL SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: DEFICIENCY,COMPANY MAINTAINED EQPMT,SERVICES,REGULATION
           WEATHER - OTHER
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       19
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DARK NIGHT W/ LIMITED VISUAL CUES.PLT HAD ARGUMENT ABT LACK OF FLT TIME.PLT STD SOME INST INOP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3976X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3976X-1981-05-06), registration cancelled 1981-05-06, S/N 32-7640005, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Mc Grath

## 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 19781129045469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781129045469A), Nov 29, 1978: Piper PA32300, AK, Destroyed

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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