# NTSB MIA79FA022: Piper PA32RT, N9771C, Charleston, SC, November 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 29, 1978
- Place: Charleston, SC · CHARLESTON, SC
- Location: 32.7766° N, 79.9309° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Charleston, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7766&lon=-79.9309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138138
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79FA022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FA022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4315  78/11/29 NR.CHARLESTON,SC      PIPER PA32RT        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 41, 670
        TIME - 1617                    N9771C              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 121 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ORLANDO,FL                 CHARLESTON,SC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       74
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          210                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- STUDENT PILOT NOT CURRENT OR QUALIFIED TO CARRY PASSENGERS OR FLY IFR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9771C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9771C-1982-11-11), registration cancelled 1982-11-11, S/N 32R-7885073 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Charleston Afb

## 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 19781129044599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781129044599A), Nov 29, 1978: Piper PA32RT300, Charleston, SC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student pilot not current or qualified to carry passengers or fly.

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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