# NTSB CHI79FA011: Piper PA-24, N8666P, Ashton, IL, October 25, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 25, 1978
- Place: Ashton, IL · ASHTON, IL
- Location: 41.8679° N, 89.2236° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ashton, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8679&lon=-89.2236&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138128
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA011
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA011

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4438  78/10/25   ASHTON,IL           PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 192
        TIME - 0710                    N8666P              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 29 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DIXON,IL                    DECATUR,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     200
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           11                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8666P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8666P-1980-10-10), registration cancelled 1980-10-10, S/N 24-4113 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19781025043979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781025043979A), Oct 25, 1978: Piper PA24400, IL, 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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