# NTSB SEA78FTI13: Piper PA-28, N16447, Kalispell, MT, May 8, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1978
- Place: Kalispell, MT · KALISPELL, MT
- Location: 48.2162° N, 114.3276° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kalispell, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2162&lon=-114.3276&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142357
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FTI13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FTI13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1035   78/5/8  NR.KALISPELL,MT       PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  2  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0740                    N16447              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  AGE 31, 1935 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            7 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GLACIER PARK INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         KALISPELL,MT                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: AUTOMOBILE                                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: DRIVER OF VEHICLE
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      39
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENCNTRD DOWNDRAFT. HIT TRUCK ON HIWAY 225FT SHORT OF RWY,DMGD LOWER FUSELAGE. LND OK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16447](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16447), registered now, S/N 28-7325276, built 1973 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Glacier Park Intl

## 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 19780508009199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780508009199A), May 8, 1978: Piper PA28140, Kalispell, MT, Substantial damage. Encntrd downdraft. Hit truck on hiway 225FT short of rwy,dmgd lowuselage. Lnd ok.

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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