# NTSB SEA77FA015: Piper PA-32R, N6638F, Olympia, WA, January 27, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 27, 1977
- Place: Olympia, WA · OLYMPIA, WA
- Location: 47.0406° N, 122.8950° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Olympia, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0406&lon=-122.8950&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 9, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA77FA015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FA015

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1608  77/1/27    OLYMPIA,WA          PIPER PA-32R        CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1909                    N6638F              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     34, 3400 TOTAL HOURS, 24
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OLYMPIA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PORTLAND,OR                 OLYMPIA,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: MISSED APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - NOT ALIGNED WITH RUNWAY/INTENDED LANDING AREA
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE/RADIO, LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          SMOKE                                                    CALM
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           32                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR (VFR CONDITIONS ON TOP)
        REMARKS- ACFT STRUCK GRNDNG RODS ATOP CONTROL TWR. SMOKE OBSCURNG VISION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6638F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Olympia

## 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 19770127020219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770127020219A), Jan 27, 1977: Piper PA32RT300, Olympia, WA, Destroyed. Acft struck grndng rods atop control twr. Smoke obscurng vision.

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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