# NTSB MKC78FA027: Piper PA-22, N9820D, Rapid City, SD, March 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1978
- Place: Rapid City, SD · RAPID CITY, SD
- Location: 44.0805° N, 103.2310° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rapid City, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0805&lon=-103.2310&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143339
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC78FA027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FA027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0835  78/3/12    RAPID CITY,SD       PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 52 TOTAL
        TIME - 1810                    N9820D              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 4 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ELLSWORTH AFB
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MITCHELL,SD                 SPEARFISH,SD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: MISSED APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: MISSED APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                          RAIN, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       34
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           10                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           VFR
        REMARKS- PLT ADVISED OF DETERIORATED WX.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9820D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9820D-2011-03-18), registration cancelled 2011-03-18, S/N 22-6707, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ellsworth Afb

## 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 19780312014039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780312014039A), Mar 12, 1978: Piper PA22160, Rapid City, SD, Substantial damage. Plt advised of deteriorated wx.

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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