# NTSB IAD78FA012: Piper PA28, N9483J, Ashford, WV, September 14, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 14, 1977
- Place: Ashford, WV · ASHFORD, WV
- Location: 38.1793° N, 81.7110° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ashford, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1793&lon=-81.7110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144821
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA012
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA012

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3329  77/9/14    ASHFORD,WV          PIPER PA28          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 60, 227
        TIME - 1205                    N9483J              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 161 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WHITE SULPHUR SPR,VA        LANCASTER,OH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        REMARKS- ACFT MISSING FOR 2 MONTHS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9483J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9483J-1978-01-24), registration cancelled 1978-01-24, S/N 28-3735 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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 19770914036339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770914036339A), Sep 14, 1977: Piper PA28180, Ashford, WV, Destroyed. Acft missing for 2 months

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.