# NTSB NYC78FA040: Piper PA-30, N8559Y, Montpelier, VT, April 7, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 7, 1978
- Place: Montpelier, VT · MONTPELIER, VT
- Location: 44.2664° N, 72.5715° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montpelier, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2664&lon=-72.5715&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141558
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2375   78/4/7    MONTPELIER,VT       PIPER PA-30         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 1230
        TIME - 1743                    N8559Y              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 249 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BARRE-MONTPELIER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WHITE PLAINS,NY             MONTPELIER,VT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           STALL                                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-WINDSHIELD
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          FREEZING DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       34
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- ACFT NOT DE-ICING EQPD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8559Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8559Y-1981-12-17), registration cancelled 1981-12-17, S/N 30-1706 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Barre-Montpelier

## 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 19780407042399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780407042399A), Apr 7, 1978: Piper PA30, Montpelier, VT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Acft not de-icing eqpd.

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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