# NTSB MIA78FA054: Piper PA-31, N7488L, Leesburg, FL, March 16, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 16, 1978
- Place: Leesburg, FL · LEESBURG, FL
- Location: 28.8108° N, 81.8779° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Leesburg, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8108&lon=-81.8779&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141962
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78FA054
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FA054

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1588  78/3/16    LEESBURG,FL         PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 500
        TIME - 0345                    N7488L              PX-  1  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FLYING BARON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LEESBURG,FL                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       70
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7488L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7488L-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 31-7300911, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Flying Baron

## 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 19780316019969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780316019969A), Mar 16, 1978: Piper PA31T1, Leesburg, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal

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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