# NTSB IAD78FA020: Piper PA-28R, N9406N, Elizabethtown, KY, December 10, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 10, 1977
- Place: Elizabethtown, KY · ELIZABETHTOWN, KY
- Location: 37.6987° N, 85.8767° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elizabethtown, KY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6987&lon=-85.8767&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143910
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4030  77/12/10   ELIZABETHTOWN,KY    PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 2606
        TIME - 1239                    N9406N              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 26 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELIZABETHTOWN,KY            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN MATERIAL AFFECTING NORMAL OPERATIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WATER IN FUEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PLT SELECTED HWY INSTEAD OF AVAIL FLDS FOR LDG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9406N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9406N-2009-09-22), registration cancelled 2009-09-22, S/N 28R-35118, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, 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 19771210039129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771210039129A), Dec 10, 1977: Piper PA28R200, Elizabethtown, KY, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Plt selected hwy instead of avail flds for ldg.

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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