# NTSB NYC78FA033: Piper PA-28, N9006K, Sandgate, VT, March 15, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 15, 1978
- Place: Sandgate, VT · SANDGATE, VT
- Location: 43.1481° N, 73.1990° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sandgate, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1481&lon=-73.1990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 2, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143467
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2358  78/3/15    SANDGATE,VT         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 103
        TIME - 1910                    N9006K              PX-  1  1  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 42 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PROSPECTVILLE,PA            RUTLAND,VT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      37
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       18
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- PLTS ORIGINAL FLT PLAN WAS PROJECTED OVR LWR AND MORE SUITABLE TRRN.WIND GUSTING 26K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9006K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9006K-1981-12-17), registration cancelled 1981-12-17, S/N 28-7890171 (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)
- 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 19780315038839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780315038839A), Mar 15, 1978: Piper PA28R200, Sandgate, VT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Plts original flt plan was projected ovr lwr and more suitable trind gusting 26K.

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.