# NTSB MKC78FCD21: Piper PA-28, N1490X, Fairfield, IA, May 9, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 9, 1978
- Place: Fairfield, IA · FAIRFIELD, IA
- Location: 41.0064° N, 91.9666° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fairfield, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0064&lon=-91.9666&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 15, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142274
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC78FCD21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FCD21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0931   78/5/9    FAIRFIELD,IA        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 58, 691
        TIME - 1130                    N1490X              PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 598 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FAIRFIELD MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALGONA,IA                   FAIRFIELD,IA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT CROSS WIND 248-292 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           50                                                      280
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           18                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTS TO 28. COLLIDED WITH CULVERT WHICH RUNS UNDER RUNWAY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1490X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1490X), registered now, S/N 28-7510095, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Fairfield 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 19780509008519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780509008519A), May 9, 1978: Piper PA28235, Fairfield, IA, Substantial damage. Wind gusts to 28. Collided with culvert which runs under runway.

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.