# NTSB IAD78FA078: Piper PA-32, N43087, Deep Gap, NC, July 6, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 6, 1978
- Place: Deep Gap, NC · DEEP GAP, NC
- Location: 36.2371° N, 81.5123° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Deep Gap, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2371&lon=-81.5123&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141380
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA078
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA078

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1710   78/7/6    DEEP GAP,NC         PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 679
        TIME - 1215                    N43087              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 304 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KNIGHTDALE,NC               BOONE,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       72
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- CONTACTED TREES NR TOP OF RIDGE IN APRX LEVEL FLT.LOW VIS IN FOG AT ARPT & ACDT SITE.FOUND 7/7/78.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43087](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43087-1982-03-12), registration cancelled 1982-03-12, S/N 32-7400040, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Boone-Blowing Rk

## 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 19780706021299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780706021299A), Jul 6, 1978: Piper PA32260, Deep Gap, NC, Destroyed. Contacted trees nr top of ridge in aprx level flt. Low vis in fog rpt & acdt site. Found 7/7/78.

## Other investigations on N43087 (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI76FEI47](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEI47), Aug 25, 1976: Piper PA-32 (N43087), Baltic, OH, substantial damage

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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