# NTSB UNK80X0102: Piper PA-28, N2181D, Melvin, IA, November 11, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 11, 1979
- Place: Melvin, IA · MELVIN, IA
- Location: 43.2865° N, 95.6086° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Melvin, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2865&lon=-95.6086&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133095
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=UNK80X0102
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK80X0102

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3130  79/11/11   MELVIN,IA           PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 19, 79 TOTAL
        TIME - 1850                    N2181D              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 25 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARSHALL,MN                 IDA GROVE,IA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       32
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2181D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2181D-1982-07-28), registration cancelled 1982-07-28, S/N 28-7990162, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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 19791111037109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791111037109A), Nov 11, 1979: Piper PA28181, Melvin, IA, Destroyed. VFR rated pilot lost control of acft at night in adverse wx. Acft impacted near vertical angle.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.