# Accident 19891123046449A: Piper PA24250, Decatur, IN, November 23, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 1989, 10:50 local time
- Place: Decatur, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8309° N, 84.9197° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8309&lon=-84.9197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5483P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5483P-2017-05-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24250
- Reported engine: LYC O540A1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 345 total, 22 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI90DET01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90DET01) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891123046449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

VFR PILOT DEPARTED IFR INTO KNOWN ICING AND WITHOUT ASCERTAINING FULL FUEL. RAN OUT ON VECTORS TO AIRPORT.CRASHED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI90DET01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90DET01), Nov 23, 1989: Piper PA-24-250 (N5483P), Decatur, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY, INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND HIS IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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