# Accident 20020307004809A: Piper PA28140, Niles, MI, March 7, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 7, 2002, 23:22 local time
- Place: Niles, MI
- Airport: Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8167° N, 86.2172° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8167&lon=-86.2172&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5246T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5246T-2002-07-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020307004809A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N5246T DEPARTED RUNWAY 14 AT NILES MI (3TR) AIRPORT WITH ONE PERSON ON BOARD. N5246T DID NOT ESTABLISH RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH SOUTH BEND DEPARTURE AFTER TAKEOFF, BUT SBN RADAR TRACKS INDICATES THAT N5246T CLIMBED TO ALTITUDE OF 1,300 FEET AGL AFTER DEPARTING 3TR, THEN BEGAN A RIGHT DESCENDING TURN AND DISAPPEARED OFF THE RADAR SCOPE PASSING THROUGH 700 FEET AGL. SBN ATC ADVISED MICHIGAN STATE POLICE THAT THEY SAW A RADAR TARGET DISAPPEAR OFF THEIR RADAR SCOPE APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MILES SOUTH OF THE NILES AIRPORT, AND THAT THERE MAY BE THE POSSIBILITY OF A DOWNED AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1-1/4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE NILES AIRPORT. AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A WOODED AREA, CLIPPING THE TOPS OF TREES, THEN IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A WOODED AREA. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT AND BURNED. SOUTH BEND WEATHER WAS REPORTING 1-1/2 MILES VISIBILITY WITH 300 FEET OVERCAST AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. (SOUTH BEND IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF NILES, MI (3TR). (.19) ON MARCH 7, 2002, AT 2322 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-28-140, N5246T, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN APP                                      ROXIMATELY 1.2 NM SOUTHEAST OF THE JERRY TYLER MEMORIAL AIRPORT (3TR), NEAR NILES, MICHIGAN. NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM 3TR EN ROUTE TO THE VERMILLION COUNTY AIRPORT, NEAR DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

## 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 CHI02FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA088), Mar 8, 2002: Piper PA-28-140 (N5246T), Niles, MI, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Flight into known adverse weather conditions by the pilot and the spatial disorientation of pilot. Contributing factors were the lack of certification by the pilot and the weather conditions.

## Other reports on N5246T (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19760327007239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760327007239A), Mar 27, 1976: Piper PA28140 (N5246T), Streator, IL, Substantial damage

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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