# NTSB MKC78FA004: Piper PA-28, N55184, Blair, NE, October 23, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 23, 1977
- Place: Blair, NE · BLAIR, NE
- Location: 41.5383° N, 96.1370° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Blair, NE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5383&lon=-96.1370&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 23, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145620
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC78FA004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FA004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3622  77/10/23   BLAIR,NE            PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 109
        TIME - 1430                    N55184              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLAIR MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BLAIR,NE                    CLARION,IA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       48
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WING SEPARATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55184](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55184-1978-02-02), registration cancelled 1978-02-02, S/N 287305328 (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: Blair Muni

## 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 19771023038769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771023038769A), Oct 23, 1977: Piper PA28180, Blair, NE, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Wing separated.

## Other investigations on N55184 (1)

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 CHI74FEV04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FEV04), Jul 25, 1973: Piper PA-28 (N55184), Tremont, IL, 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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