# NTSB NYC78FA069: Piper PA-32, N5254S, Westerly, RI, July 9, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 9, 1978
- Place: Westerly, RI · WESTERLY, RI
- Location: 41.3733° N, 71.8068° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westerly, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3733&lon=-71.8068&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140856
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FA069
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FA069

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2424   78/7/9    WESTERLY,RI         PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 1598
        TIME - 2020                    N5254S              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WESTERLY STATE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WESTERLY,RI                 RED HOOK,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          GROUND FOG                                               220
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- IFR TKOF AT DUSK.RT WING STRUCK GROUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5254S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5254S-2012-08-14), registration cancelled 2012-08-14, S/N 32-40945, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Westerly State

## 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 19780709030119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780709030119A), Jul 9, 1978: Piper PA32RT300, RI, Destroyed, 3 fatal

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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