# NTSB OAK77FA021: Piper PA-24, N8478P, Elko, NV, February 24, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 24, 1977
- Place: Elko, NV · ELKO, NV
- Location: 40.8381° N, 115.7678° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elko, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8381&lon=-115.7678&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK77FA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK77FA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1025  77/2/24  NR.ELKO,NV            PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 580
        TIME - 1422                    N8478P              PX-  0  0  0  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ELKO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALT LAKE CITY,UT           RENO,NV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        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)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      310
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           12                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- GENERAL DISINTEGRATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8478P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8478P-1977-07-18), registration cancelled 1977-07-18, S/N 26-56 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-400) (registry code 7102408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Elko

## 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 19770224012729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770224012729A), Feb 24, 1977: Piper PA24400, Elko, NV, Destroyed. General disintegration.

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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