# NTSB CHI79FA028: Piper PA-32R, N7299C, Rock Falls, IL, March 14, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 14, 1978
- Place: Rock Falls, IL · ROCK FALLS, IL
- Location: 41.7721° N, 89.6942° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rock Falls, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7721&lon=-89.6942&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 1, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202545
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA028
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA028-202545

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4178  78/3/14    ROCK FALLS,IL       PIPER PA-32R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 252
        TIME - 1921                    N7299C              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 51 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WHITESIDE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCK FALLS,IL               PEKIN,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7299C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7299C-1982-04-14), registration cancelled 1982-04-14, S/N 32R-7680046 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Whiteside County

## 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 19780314042369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780314042369A), Mar 14, 1978: Piper PA32R300, Rock Falls, 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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