# NTSB MKC77FER03: Piper PA-28, N56091, Rochester, MN, October 20, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 20, 1976
- Place: Rochester, MN · ROCHESTER, MN
- Location: 44.0216° N, 92.4699° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rochester, MN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0216&lon=-92.4699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 20, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156321
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC77FER03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77FER03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3549  76/10/20   ROCHESTER,MN        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 329
        TIME - 1943                    N56091              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 266 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROCHESTER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OTTUMWA,IA                  MINNEAPOLIS,MN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              33
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- FLYING OUT OF SNOWSTORM AT NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56091](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56091-2000-02-08), registration cancelled 2000-02-08, S/N 28-7305527 (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Rochester

## 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 19761020036589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761020036589A), Oct 20, 1976: Piper PA28180, Rochester, MN, Substantial damage. Flying out of snowstorm at night.

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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