# NTSB MIA78DA025: Piper PA-28, N4901J, Mayaguez, PR (Atlantic Ocean), December 24, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 24, 1977
- Place: Mayaguez, PR (Atlantic Ocean) · MAYAGUEZ,PR, AO
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144069
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78DA025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DA025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4151  77/12/24 NR.MAYAGUEZ,PR        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1910                    N4901J              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PORT AU PRINCE,HAITI        SAN JUAN,PR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      THUNDERSTORM, RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      78
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PLT DECLARED MAYDAY,STATED HIS GYRO TUMBLED.DISAPPEARED FRM RADAR.ACFT NOT RCVRD,INJ PRESUMED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4901J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4901J-2012-08-08), registration cancelled 2012-08-08, S/N 28R-30618, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, 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 19771224043389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771224043389A), Dec 24, 1977: Piper PA28R180, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Plt declared mayday,stated his gyro tumbled. Disappeared frm radar. Acft not rcvrd,inj 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.