# NTSB MIA78DA045: Piper PA-28, N620FL, Jekyll Island, GA, February 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1978
- Place: Jekyll Island, GA · JEKYLL ISLAND, GA
- Location: 31.0625° N, 81.4137° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jekyll Island, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0625&lon=-81.4137&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78DA045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DA045

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1904  78/2/18  NR.JEKYLL ISLAND,GA   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 291
        TIME - 1543                    N620FL              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 25 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - JEKYLL ISLAND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FLORENCE,SC                JEKYLL ISLAND,GA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       56
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          310                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- INJ INDEX & DMG PRESUMED,1 BODY RCVD.PLT ADVISED INSTRUMENT PROBLEMS DURING FLT,ELECTED CONTINUE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N620FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N620FL-2013-04-26), registration cancelled 2013-04-26, S/N 28-7125507, built 1971 (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: Destroyed
- Airport: Jekyll Island

## 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 19780218019509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780218019509A), Feb 18, 1978: Piper PA28140, Jekyll Island, GA, 3 fatal. Inj index & dmg presumed,1 body rcvd. Plt advised instrument problduring flt,elected continue.

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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