# NTSB MKC76AK068: Piper PA-28, N6381J, Hiawatha, IA, July 22, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 22, 1976
- Place: Hiawatha, IA · HIAWATHA, IA
- Location: 42.0561° N, 91.6899° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hiawatha, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0561&lon=-91.6899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 8, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC76AK068
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76AK068

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1958  76/7/22    HIAWATHA,IA         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 425
        TIME - 0945                    N6381J              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WEST UNION,IA               IOWA CITY,IA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: ELECTRONIC TOWERS                         IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       67
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          110                                                       11
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- STRUCK TV TOWER ABT 815 AGL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6381J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6381J-1976-09-27), registration cancelled 1976-09-27, S/N 28-4795 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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 19760722025149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760722025149A), Jul 22, 1976: Piper PA28180, Hiawatha, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck tv tower abt 815 AGL.

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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