# NTSB DEN78FA060: Piper PA-28, N40439, Edgerton, WY, August 14, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 14, 1978
- Place: Edgerton, WY · EDGERTON, WY
- Location: 43.4141° N, 106.2478° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Edgerton, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4141&lon=-106.2478&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 23, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139513
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FA060
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FA060

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4420  78/8/14  NR.EDGERTON,WY        PIPER PA-28         CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                PRIVATE, AGE 18, 337
        TIME - 1455                    N40439              PX-  0  0  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, 88 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GILLETTE,WY                 CASPER,WY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- PILOT TIMES ARE FROM FAA RECORDS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40439](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40439-1982-01-21), registration cancelled 1982-01-21, S/N 28R-7703305 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (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 19780814043209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780814043209A), Aug 14, 1978: Piper PA28R201T, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal

## Other investigations on N40439 (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 DEN78FTC03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FTC03), Oct 22, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N40439), Gillette, WY, 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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