# NTSB MKC81FA028: Piper PA-28, N47970, Dixon, IA, April 8, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 8, 1981
- Place: Dixon, IA · DIXON, IA
- Location: 41.7421° N, 90.7824° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dixon, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7421&lon=-90.7824&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC81FA028
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FA028

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0538   81/4/8    DIXON,IA            PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 115
        TIME - 1600                    N47970              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CLINTON,IA                  SOUTH ENGLISH,IA
        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)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  3800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       63
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          260                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT RPRTD BCMG LOST IN RAIN STORM.L WING SEPD AFTER ACFT OBSD DIVING OUT OF CLDS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47970](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47970-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 28-7890162, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19810408014989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810408014989A), Apr 8, 1981: Piper PA28181, Dixion, IA, Destroyed. Operated VFR into clouds. Lost control during assist vectors to airport. Airframe inflight separation.

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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