# NTSB SEA82FA010: Piper PA-28, N8415W, Mill City, OR, December 6, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 6, 1981
- Place: Mill City, OR · MILL CITY, OR
- Location: 44.7520° N, 122.4770° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mill City, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7520&lon=-122.4770&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123190
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA82FA010
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82FA010

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3479   81/12/6   MILL CITY,OR        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 250
        TIME - 1803                    N8415W              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KLAMATH FALLS,OR            KELSO,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO USE OR INCORRECTLY USED MISC.EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       51
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- DES FM VFR O/T.GYRO PRECESSED.HDGS NOT FLWD DURING RADAR ASSIST TO VFR.NO PITOT HEATER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8415W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8415W-1982-10-16), registration cancelled 1982-10-16, S/N 28-2639, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19811206077619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811206077619A), Dec 6, 1981: Piper PA28180, Mill City, OR, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed when unqualified pilot attempted flight in IMC trying to reach open airport.

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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