# NTSB FTW78FA023: Piper PA-28, N5127L, Rockwall, TX, January 7, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 7, 1978
- Place: Rockwall, TX · ROCKWALL, TX
- Location: 32.9181° N, 96.4381° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rockwall, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9181&lon=-96.4381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143699
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0133   78/1/7    ROCKWALL,TX         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 350
        TIME - 0611                    N5127L              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROCKWALL MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCKWALL,TX                 WICHITA FALLS,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               50
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          GROUND FOG                                                56
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT WAS 157 MG%. HEAVY LOCALIZED GROUND FOG INFLUENCED BY LARGE LAKE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5127L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5127L-1978-03-03), registration cancelled 1978-03-03, S/N 284410 (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
- Airport: Rockwall Muni

## 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 19780107000389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780107000389A), Jan 7, 1978: Piper PA28180, Rockwall, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Plt blood alcohol content was 157 mg . Heavy localized ground fogluenced by large lake.

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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