# NTSB CHI78FEX28: Piper PA-28, N7638W, Mitchell, IN, July 30, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 30, 1978
- Place: Mitchell, IN · MITCHELL, IN
- Location: 38.7371° N, 86.4752° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mitchell, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7371&lon=-86.4752&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140025
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FEX28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEX28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2294  78/7/30    MITCHELL,IN         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 416
        TIME - 2038                    N7638W              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 84 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOUTH HAVEN,MI              LOUISVILLE,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          HAZE                                                      90
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- HIT STATIC CABLES ON HIGH VOLTAGE LINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7638W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7638W-1982-03-26), registration cancelled 1982-03-26, S/N 28-1608 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19780730024589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780730024589A), Jul 30, 1978: Piper PA28180, Mitchell, IN, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Hit static cables on high voltage line.

## Other investigations on N7638W (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 MIA76DKJ03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA76DKJ03), Jul 11, 1975: Piper PA-28 (N7638W), Luverne, AL, substantial damage

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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