# NTSB MIA78FLD23: Piper PA-28, N5538U, Okeechobee, FL, February 3, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 3, 1978
- Place: Okeechobee, FL · OKEECHOBEE, FL
- Location: 27.2416° N, 80.8293° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Okeechobee, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2416&lon=-80.8293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143386
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA78FLD23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78FLD23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1091   78/2/3    OKEECHOBEE,FL       PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 30, 107
        TIME - 1920                    N5538U              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          INMOKALEE,FL                OKEECHOBEE,FL                VERO BEACH,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           OVERSHOOT                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      TAIL WIND 158-202 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           66                                                       60
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5538U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5538U), registered now, S/N 28-26260, built 1969 (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Okeechobee County

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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