# NTSB CHI80FA020: Piper PA-28, N4512P, Royal Oak, MI, December 30, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 30, 1979
- Place: Royal Oak, MI · ROYAL OAK, MI
- Location: 42.5078° N, 83.1539° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Royal Oak, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5078&lon=-83.1539&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132957
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FA020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3144  79/12/30   ROYAL OAK,MI        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 18, 250
        TIME - 2020                    N4512P              PX-  2  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OAKLAND-TROY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PONTIAC,MI                  ROYAL OAK,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4512P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4512P-1983-04-19), registration cancelled 1983-04-19, S/N 28-8016018, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Oakland-Troy

## 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 19791230036349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791230036349A), Dec 30, 1979: Piper PA28161, Royal Oak, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR pilot did not check weather for night local flight. Ran into fog returning to airport. Lost control of aircraft

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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