# NTSB MKC78FA014: Piper PA-28R, N44988, Waukon, IA, December 16, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 16, 1977
- Place: Waukon, IA · WAUKON, IA
- Location: 43.2685° N, 91.4785° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Waukon, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2685&lon=-91.4785&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144083
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC78FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4178  77/12/16   WAUKON,IA           PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 437
        TIME - 1230                    N44988              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 421 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WAUKON,IA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WAUKON,IA                   DES MOINES,IA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44988](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44988-1982-03-02), registration cancelled 1982-03-02, S/N 28R-7737157, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Waukon,Ia

## 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 19771216039929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771216039929A), Dec 16, 1977: Piper PA28R201, Waukon, IA, Destroyed

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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