# NTSB MIA77FA069: Piper PA-32, N4434F, Andros Is, Burkina Faso, July 16, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 16, 1977
- Place: Andros Is, Burkina Faso · ANDROS IS, Bahamas
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 20, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145914
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA77FA069
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77FA069

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2913  77/7/16  NR.ANDROS IS,BAHAMAS  PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 350
        TIME - 2245                    N4434F              PX-  1  0  0  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GREAT INAGUA,BAHAMAS        FT LAUDERDALE,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WING RCVRD 23-16N,78-50W.INJ INDEX PRESUMED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4434F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4434F-1977-11-29), registration cancelled 1977-11-29, S/N 32-7640115, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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 19770716031579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770716031579A), Jul 16, 1977: Piper PA32RT300, Andros Is, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wing rcvrd 23-16N,78-50W.inj index presumed.

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.