# NTSB MKC77FA037: Piper PA-28, N7731W, Eagle Butte, SD, September 3, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 3, 1977
- Place: Eagle Butte, SD · EAGLE BUTTE, SD
- Location: 44.9948° N, 101.2318° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eagle Butte, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9948&lon=-101.2318&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC77FA037
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77FA037

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3623   77/9/3    EAGLE BUTTE,SD      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 322
        TIME - 0835                    N7731W              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 215 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - EAGLE BUTTE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EAGLE BUTTE,SD              DETROIT LAKES,MN
        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 - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7731W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7731W-1978-02-06), registration cancelled 1978-02-06, S/N 28-1739 (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
- Airport: Eagle Butte

## 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 19770903037779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770903037779A), Sep 3, 1977: Piper PA28180, Eagle Butte, SD, Destroyed, 2 fatal

## Other investigations on N7731W (2)

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 CHI67F0473](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67F0473), Feb 16, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N7731W), Evergreen Pk, IL, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK65X0137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0137), Oct 4, 1964: Piper PA28 (N7731W), Hobart, IN, 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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