# NTSB IAD80DID03: Piper PA-28, N55811, Charlottesvlle, VA, November 23, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 23, 1979
- Place: Charlottesvlle, VA · CHARLOTTESVLLE, VA
- Location: 38.0377° N, 78.4854° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Charlottesville, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0377&lon=-78.4854&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133261
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80DID03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80DID03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3454  79/11/23   CHARLOTTESVLLE,VA   PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 225
        TIME - 1500                    N55811              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 180 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RICHMOND,VA                 OREGON,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LNDD IN HAYFIELD.HIT BARBED WIRE FENCE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55811](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55811), registered now, S/N 28-7325490, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19791123036639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791123036639A), Nov 23, 1979: Piper PA28140, Charlottesville, VA, Substantial damage. Weather turned bad, became lost. Made precautionary landing in farm field. Hit fence.

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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