# NTSB MIA80FA046: Piper PA-28, N1438X, Florence, SC, March 10, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 10, 1980
- Place: Florence, SC · FLORENCE, SC
- Location: 34.1789° N, 79.7922° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Florence, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1789&lon=-79.7922&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131920
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA80FA046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80FA046

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0541  80/3/10    FLORENCE,SC         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 229
        TIME - 2145                    N1438X              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 33 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FLORENCE CITY-CO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FLORENCE,SC                 HARRISBURG,PA
        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 - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      59
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ACFT CRASHED IN WOODED AREA NR ARPT AFTER TKOF ON DARK NGT.LOW CLDS/SCUD APRX 500FT,1HR BFR ACDNT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1438X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1438X-2009-06-30), registration cancelled 2009-06-30, S/N 32-7500039, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Florence City-Co

## 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 19800310090519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800310090519A), Mar 10, 1980: Piper PA32260, Florence, SC, Destroyed. Shortly after takeoff, indications VFR pilot lost ground reference and or entered clouds on climbout.

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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