# NTSB MIA78FKJ63: Piper PA-28R, N331CS, Tuscaloosa, AL, July 20, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 20, 1978
- Place: Tuscaloosa, AL · TUSCALOOSA, AL
- Location: 33.2098° N, 87.5692° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tuscaloosa, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2098&lon=-87.5692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78FKJ63
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FKJ63

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4061  78/7/20    TUSCALOOSA,AL       PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 185
        TIME - 1345                    N331CS              PX-  0  3  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 30 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TUSCALOOSA MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUSCALOOSA,AL               DESTIN,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N331CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N331CS-1982-03-01), registration cancelled 1982-03-01, S/N 28R-7235093, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Tuscaloosa Muni

## 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 19780720025579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780720025579A), Jul 20, 1978: Piper PA28R200, Tuscaloosa, AL, Destroyed

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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