# NTSB IAD78FA077: Piper PA-24, N5991P, Deerfield, VA, July 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 4, 1978
- Place: Deerfield, VA · DEERFIELD, VA
- Location: 38.1946° N, 79.4130° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Deerfield, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1946&lon=-79.4130&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 20, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140680
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA077
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA077

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2182   78/7/4  NR.DEERFIELD,VA       PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 60, 643
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N5991P              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 169 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FLORENCE,SC                 BINGHAMTON,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 7/7/78.TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME LOGGED WAS 30MIN IN 1973.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5991P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5991P-1980-12-22), registration cancelled 1980-12-22, S/N 24-1085 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (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 19780704025549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780704025549A), Jul 4, 1978: Piper PA24400, Deerfield, VA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Recovery date 7/7/78.total instrument time logged was 30MIN in 19

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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