# NTSB IAD79FA020: Piper PA-24, N5022P, Marlinton, WV, November 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 23, 1978
- Place: Marlinton, WV · MARLINTON, WV
- Location: 38.2240° N, 80.0875° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Marlinton, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2240&lon=-80.0875&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138416
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FA020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA020

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3912  78/11/23 NR.MARLINTON,WV       PIPER PA-24         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 443
        TIME - 2330                    N5022P              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 21 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BUFFALO,NY                  MYRTLE BEACH,SC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        REMARKS- SKY OVERCAST,VERY DARK NIGHT,PLT DECENDED BELOW MEA OVER MTNS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5022P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5022P-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 24-25, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (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 19781123041599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781123041599A), Nov 23, 1978: Piper PA24400, Marlinton, WV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Sky overcast,very dark night,plt decended below mea over mtns.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
