# NTSB IAD77FA039: Piper PA-31, N7439L, Taplin, WV, May 6, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 6, 1977
- Place: Taplin, WV · TAPLIN, WV
- Location: 37.7584° N, 81.8957° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taplin, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7584&lon=-81.8957&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 5, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 147178
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD77FA039
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FA039

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1763   77/5/6    TAPLIN,WV           PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0615                    N7439L              PX-  2  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 AGE 55, 18000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 1000 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MCDONALD FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TAPLIN,WV                   AMBLER,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        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                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CRASHED APRX 1/2MI EAST OF FIELD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7439L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7439L-1977-10-14), registration cancelled 1977-10-14, S/N 31-828 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Mcdonald Field

## 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 19770506023009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770506023009A), May 6, 1977: Piper PA31, Taplin, WV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Crashed aprx 1/2MI east of field.

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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