# NTSB IAD80FA014: Piper PA-32, N3409W, Davis, WV, November 25, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 25, 1979
- Place: Davis, WV · DAVIS, WV
- Location: 39.1279° N, 79.4603° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Davis, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1279&lon=-79.4603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132843
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3971  79/11/25 NR.DAVIS,WV           PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 400
        TIME - 2150                    N3409W              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BALTIMORE,MD                INDIANAPOLIS,IN
        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
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - WEATHER PERSONNEL: INADEQUATE/INCORRECT WEATHER BRIEFING
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      160
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           32                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- CRASHED NEAR TOP OF 4000FT MTN.DARK NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3409W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3409W-2009-10-09), registration cancelled 2009-10-09, S/N 32-270, built 1965 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, 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 19791125040909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791125040909A), Nov 25, 1979: Piper PA32260, Davis, WV, Destroyed, 3 fatal. VFR pilot struck trees on top of ridge en route at night in IFR weather. Weatherbrief did not include severe.

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.