# NTSB MKC75AK004: Piper PA-28, N8020N, Dubuque, IA, July 22, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 22, 1974
- Place: Dubuque, IA · DUBUQUE, IA
- Location: 42.5006° N, 90.6646° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dubuque, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5006&lon=-90.6646&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134566
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC75AK004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC75AK004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2245  74/7/22    DUBUQUE,IOWA        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 40, 28 TOTAL
        TIME - 0852                    N8020N              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WINONA,WIS                  MUSCATINE,IOWA
        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 - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       71
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           20                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- WITNESS OBSERVED ACFT DESCEND OUT OF CLOUDS IN A SPIRAL PRIOR TO HITTING TREE & GROUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8020N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8020N-1974-10-01), registration cancelled 1974-10-01, S/N 28-25263 (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)
- 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 19740722026759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740722026759A), Jul 22, 1974: Piper PA28140, Dubuque, IA, Destroyed. Witness observed acft descend out of clouds in a spiral prior to hitting tree & ground.

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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