# NTSB MKC78FA012: Piper PA-28R, N38775, Fordland, MO, December 8, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 8, 1977
- Place: Fordland, MO · FORDLAND, MO
- Location: 37.1555° N, 92.9426° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fordland, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1555&lon=-92.9426&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 1, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143878
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC78FA012
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FA012

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4108   77/12/8   FORDLAND,MO         PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 22, 123
        TIME - 1215                    N38775              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          SALT LAKE CITY,UT           LEXINGTON,KY                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY,ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       39
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          150                                                       13
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38775](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38775-1982-03-22), registration cancelled 1982-03-22, S/N 28R-7703273 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (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 19771208040799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771208040799A), Dec 8, 1977: Piper PA28R201T, Fordland, MO, Destroyed, 1 fatal

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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