# NTSB NYC78FA002: Piper PA-28, N3QA, Randolph, NJ, October 26, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 26, 1977
- Place: Randolph, NJ · RANDOLPH, NJ
- Location: 40.8434° N, 74.5818° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Township of Randolph, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8434&lon=-74.5818&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145226
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3016  77/10/26   RANDOLPH,NJ         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 533
        TIME - 1341                    N3QA                PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FLANDERS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WELLSBORO,PA                TETERBORO,NJ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT HAD ELT ANTENNA INSTALLED,HOWEVER ELT WAS NOT FOUND.HIT SUPPORTING CABLE ABT 300FT AGL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3QA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3QA-1978-01-26), registration cancelled 1978-01-26, S/N 28-7415470, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Flanders

## 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 19771026036569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771026036569A), Oct 26, 1977: Piper PA28151, Randolph, NJ, Destroyed. Acft had ELT antenna installed,however ELT was not found. Hit supporting cable abt 300FT AGL.

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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