# NTSB IAD78FA014: Piper PA-31T, N801HD, Beckley, WV, November 24, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 24, 1977
- Place: Beckley, WV · BECKLEY, WV
- Location: 37.7732° N, 81.1615° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Beckley, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7732&lon=-81.1615&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144206
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4132  77/11/24   BECKLEY,WV          PIPER PA-31T        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1105                    N801HD              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  43, 6500 TOTAL HOURS, 232
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RALEIGH COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DUPAGE,IL                   BECKLEY,WV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      350
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           13                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- STEEL REINFORCED CONCRETE WALL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N801HD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N801HD-1977-11-27), registration cancelled 1977-11-27, S/N 31T7620031 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Raleigh County

## 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 19771124043429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771124043429A), Nov 24, 1977: Piper PA31T1, Beckley, WV, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Steel reinforced concrete wall.

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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