# NTSB IAD78DKM07: Piper PA-28, N44673, West Jefferson, NC, January 20, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: January 20, 1978
- Place: West Jefferson, NC · WEST JEFFERSON, NC
- Location: 36.3861° N, 81.4892° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Jefferson, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3861&lon=-81.4892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142868
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78DKM07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78DKM07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1894  78/1/20    WEST JEFFERSON,NC   PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 850
        TIME - 1730                    N44673              PX-  0  2  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 5 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MYRTLE BEACH,SC             BANNER ELK,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                      SNOW SHOWERS, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PAX STATED ACFT BROKE OUT OF CLOUDS WITH MTN ONLY FEET AWAY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44673](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44673-1981-10-15), registration cancelled 1981-10-15, S/N 28-7410106, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (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 19780120019529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780120019529A), Jan 20, 1978: Piper PA28235, West Jefferson, NC, Destroyed. Pax stated acft broke out of clouds with mtn only feet away.

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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