# NTSB MIA80FA021: Piper PA-32, N3802W, Woodbine, GA, December 21, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1979
- Place: Woodbine, GA · WOODBINE, GA
- Location: 30.9599° N, 81.7181° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Woodbine, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9599&lon=-81.7181&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132114
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA80FA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80FA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3483  79/12/21   WOODBINE,GA         PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 300
        TIME - 2035                    N3802W              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 150 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MT.GILEAD,OH                STUART,FL.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          350                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ANOTHER PLT RPRTD IMC COND FM 1000 TO 8000FT IN VCNTY OF ACDNT.N3802W AT 7300FT PRIOR TO ACDNT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3802W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3802W-1980-11-10), registration cancelled 1980-11-10, S/N 32-730, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19791221041019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791221041019A), Dec 21, 1979: Piper PA32260, Woodbine, GA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Lost control in clouds on night VFR flight. Airframe separated. Was advised of IFR weather conditions en route.

## Other investigations on N3802W (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI73FEC07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEC07), Sep 2, 1972: Piper PA-32 (N3802W), Onsted, MI, substantial damage

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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