# NTSB SEA78FA007: Piper PA-28, N2710Q, Gales Creek, OR, November 4, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 4, 1977
- Place: Gales Creek, OR · GALES CREEK, OR
- Location: 45.5865° N, 123.2148° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gales Creek, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5865&lon=-123.2148&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 6, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FA007
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FA007

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3386   77/11/4   GALES CREEK,OR      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 223
        TIME - 1718                    N2710Q              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 36 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HILLSBORO,OR                BURLINGTON,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      120
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           4                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- NO WX BRIEFING.REPORTED IN IFR CONDITIONS.NR VERTICAL DESCENT THRU TREES.LOCATED 11/5/77.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2710Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2710Q-1978-01-24), registration cancelled 1978-01-24, S/N 28-7725204, built 1977 (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
- Airport: Hillsboro

## 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 19771104036019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771104036019A), Nov 4, 1977: Piper PA28140, Gales Creek, OR, Destroyed. No wx briefing. Reported in IFR conditions. Nr vertical descent thru trees. Located 11/5/77.

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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