# NTSB IAD75FIJ08: Piper PA-28, N56845, Elkins, WV, August 31, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 31, 1974
- Place: Elkins, WV · ELKINS, WV
- Location: 38.9241° N, 79.8543° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elkins, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9241&lon=-79.8543&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138723
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD75FIJ08
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD75FIJ08

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3418  74/8/31    ELKINS,W VA         PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 21, 349
        TIME - 1245                    N56845              PX-  0  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 12 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ELKINS-RANDOLPH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELKINS,W VA                 YOUNGSTOWN,OHIO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       67
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          320                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- IFR DEPT NOT IN ACCORD WITH PUBLISHED PROCEDURES.HIT TREES ABT 2000FT MSL APRX 3.5MI NW OF ARPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56845](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56845-1974-10-29), registration cancelled 1974-10-29, S/N 28-7425050 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Elkins-Randolph

## 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 19740831030969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740831030969A), Aug 31, 1974: Piper PA28R200, Elkins, WV, Destroyed. IFR dept not in accord with published procedures. Hit trees abt 2000FT MSL aprx 3.5MI nw of arpt.

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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