# NTSB MKC78FA028: Piper PA-32R, N75089, Belfield, ND, March 15, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 15, 1978
- Place: Belfield, ND · BELFIELD, ND
- Location: 46.8868° N, 103.1955° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Belfield, ND, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8868&lon=-103.1955&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143383
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC78FA028
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FA028

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1078  78/3/15    BELFIELD,ND         PIPER PA-32R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 1160
        TIME - 1218                    N75089              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 280 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          B/ZEMAN,MT                  DEVILS LAKE ND
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: BANK AND TURN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              35
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- NO EVIDENCE OF ROTATION ON TURN-COORDINATOR GYRO.PLT STATED TROUBLE WITH ARTIFICIAL HORIZON.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75089](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75089-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N 32R-7680255, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (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 19780315015279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780315015279A), Mar 15, 1978: Piper PA32R, Belfield, ND, Destroyed, 3 fatal. No evidence of rotation on turn-coordinator gyro. Plt stated troubith artificial horizon.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.