# NTSB IAD78FA051: Piper PA-28, N55645, Wilmington, DE, March 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 18, 1978
- Place: Wilmington, DE · WILMINGTON, DE
- Location: 39.7357° N, 75.5321° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wilmington, DE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7357&lon=-75.5321&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141586
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA051
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA051

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3977  78/3/18    WILMINGTON,DE       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 80 TOTAL
        TIME - 0907                    N55645              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 12 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AMBLER,PA                   WILLIAMSBURG,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        REMARKS- EVIDENCE OF CYCLIC LOADS.L WING FAILED POSITIVE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55645](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55645-2012-08-23), registration cancelled 2012-08-23, S/N 287305417, built 1973 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, 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 19780318045389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780318045389A), Mar 18, 1978: Piper PA28180, Wilmington, PA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Evidence of cyclic loads.l wing failed positive for unknown reaso

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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