# NTSB IAD78DIJ01: Piper PA-28, N38531, Abingdon, VA, October 13, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 13, 1977
- Place: Abingdon, VA · ABINGDON, VA
- Location: 36.7067° N, 81.9716° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Abingdon, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7067&lon=-81.9716&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144568
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78DIJ01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78DIJ01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3555  77/10/13   ABINGDON,VA         PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1913                    N38531              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 39, 1518 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            10 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          JOHNSON CITY,TN             RICHLANDS,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          HAZE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT DECIDED TO RETURN TO DEPT PT AFTER OBSERVING MOUNTAIN TOP OBSCURED WITH FOG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38531](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38531-2009-11-09), registration cancelled 2009-11-09, S/N 28-7790560, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19771013035889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771013035889A), Oct 13, 1977: Piper PA28181, Abingdon, VA, Substantial damage. Plt decided to return to dept pt after observing mountain top obscured with fog.

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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