# NTSB IAD78FA022: Piper PA-28, N7285W, Ocracoke, NC, December 14, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 14, 1977
- Place: Ocracoke, NC · OCRACOKE, NC
- Location: 35.0732° N, 75.9985° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ocracoke, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0732&lon=-75.9985&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 7, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143895
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4140  77/12/14   OCRACOKE,NC         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 583
        TIME - 1950                    N7285W              PX-  1  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 555 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OCRACOKE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OCRACOKE,NC                 AHOSKI,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TORNADO
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                            RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- SAND DUNE. WITNESS STATED TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN APPROX 3 MILES NORTH OF A/P.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7285W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7285W-1982-01-04), registration cancelled 1982-01-04, S/N 28-1125 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ocracoke

## 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 19771214042069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771214042069A), Dec 14, 1977: Piper PA28180, Ocracoke, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Sand dune. Witness stated tornado touched down approx 3 miles north of a/p.

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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