# NTSB IAD78FA060: Piper PA-28R, N4448X, California, MD, April 19, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 19, 1978
- Place: California, MD · CALIFORNIA, MD
- Location: 38.2976° N, 76.4921° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of California, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2976&lon=-76.4921&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142158
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA060
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA060

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2018  78/4/19    CALIFORNIA,MD       PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2119                    N4448X              PX-  0  1  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 39, UNK/NR TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ST MARY'S COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BALTIMORE,MD                CALIFORNIA,MD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                          RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          GROUND FOG                                               BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BLO MDA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4448X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4448X-2012-07-09), registration cancelled 2012-07-09, S/N 28R-7635046, built 1975 (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
- Airport: St Mary'S 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 19780419029099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780419029099A), Apr 19, 1978: Piper PA28R200, California, MD, Destroyed. Descended blo mda.

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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