# NTSB IAD78FA088: Piper PA-34, N56122, Chesterfield, VA, August 2, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 2, 1978
- Place: Chesterfield, VA · CHESTERFIELD, VA
- Location: 37.3771° N, 77.5058° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chesterfield, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3771&lon=-77.5058&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139892
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA088
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA088

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2100   78/8/2    CHESTERFIELD,VA     PIPER PA-34         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 508
        TIME - 2303                    N56122              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 2 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHESTERFIELD CO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          WASHINGTON,DC               CHESTERFIELD,VA              WINCHESTER,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       74
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          160                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WX-LOW CLOUDS WITH RESTRICTED VISIBILITY.LEFT SEAT PLT HAD EXPIRED MEDICAL & WAS NOT CURRENT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56122](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56122-2013-04-22), registration cancelled 2013-04-22, S/N 34-7350292, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (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: Chesterfield Co

## 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 19780802041229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780802041229A), Aug 2, 1978: Piper PA34200, Chesterfield, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wx-low clouds with restricted visibility. Left seat plt had expiredical & was not current.

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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