# NTSB SEA78FA021: Piper PA-28, N32085, Springdale, WA, March 11, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 11, 1978
- Place: Springdale, WA · SPRINGDALE, WA
- Location: 48.0572° N, 117.7466° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Springdale, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0572&lon=-117.7466&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143233
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0511  78/3/11    SPRINGDALE,WA       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 56, 49 TOTAL
        TIME - 1344                    N32085              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EPHRATA,WA                  SPOKANE,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        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 - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- REQ NAV ASSISTANCE ON SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT TO DES.DID NOT SHUT DOWN,ATTEMPT FLT BACK,MTN TOPS OBSC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32085](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32085-1980-07-30), registration cancelled 1980-07-30, S/N 28-7515066, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (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 19780311006839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780311006839A), Mar 11, 1978: Piper PA28151, Springdale, WA, Destroyed. Req nav assistance on solo x-country flt to des. Did not shut downempt flt back,mtn tops obsc.

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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