# NTSB OAK78DXQ28: Piper PA-28, N438FL, Carson City, NV, June 20, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: June 20, 1978
- Place: Carson City, NV · CARSON CITY, NV
- Location: 39.1638° N, 119.7674° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carson City, NV, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1638&lon=-119.7674&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78DXQ28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DXQ28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0981  78/6/20  NR.CARSON CITY,NV     PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1300                    N438FL              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE UNK/NR, 1461 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 805 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CARSON CITY,NY              SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          205                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.WIND GUSTING 25K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N438FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N438FL-1980-07-21), registration cancelled 1980-07-21, S/N 287125225 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (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 19780620019009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780620019009A), Jun 20, 1978: Piper PA28140, Carson City,Nv, NV, Destroyed. Mountainous terrain. Wind gusting 25K.

## Other investigations on N438FL (1)

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.

- [NTSB OAK76DVD41](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76DVD41), Jun 14, 1976: Piper PA-28 (N438FL), Petaluma, CA, substantial damage

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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