# NTSB CHI02LA109: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N3034A, Valparaiso, IN, April 19, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 2002, 12:18 local (17:18 UTC) - Place: Valparaiso, IN - Coordinates: 41.453887, -87.006942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4539&lon=-87.0069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Textron Lycoming, Federal Aviation Administration - South Bend FSDO, The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. - NTSB case key (mKey): 54584 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54584/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54584 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA109 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining aircraft control while encountering windshear during initial climbout, resulting in a stall at a low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - windshear (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis While on initial climb after takeoff the airplane encountered windshear and the airplane stalled, subsequently impacting the terrain. The pilot reported the takeoff and initial climb were normal until approximately 300 feet above ground level when the airplane encountered "severe turbulence, causing left turn and loss of lift." The pilot stated the engine was producing "full power" when the airplane impacted the terrain. The winds were 020 degrees magnetic at 12 knots, with gusts of 17 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2002, at 1218 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, N3034A, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with the terrain following a loss of control while on initial climb after takeoff. The airplane had departed runway 36 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, dry/asphalt) at the Porter County Airport (VPZ), Valparaiso, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot and his passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and had the intended destination of the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit, Michigan. According to the pilot's written statement, the takeoff and initial climb were normal until approximately 300 feet above ground level when the airplane encountered "severe turbulence, causing left turn and loss of lift." The pilot stated the engine was producing "full power" when the airplane impacted the terrain. A weather observation station, located at VPZ, recorded the weather around the time of the accident as: Observation Time: 1220 cdt Wind: 020 degrees magnetic at 12 knots, Gusts 17 knots Visibility: 10 statute miles Sky Condition: Sky Clear Temperature: 16 degrees Celsius Dew Point: 09 degrees Celsius Pressure: 30.03 inches of mercury ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3034A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3034A-2012-12-18), registration cancelled 2012-12-18, S/N 32R-7987020, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32RT-300T - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7987020 - Airframe hours: 2605 - Engines: Textron Lycoming TIO-540-SIAD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Turbo Flite, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2001, 150 hours before - Departed: VPZ, Valparaiso, IN - Destination: DTW, Detroit, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VPZ, Porter County Municipal, runway 36, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 16, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,350 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: VPZ ## 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 20020419010849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020419010849A), Apr 19, 2002: Piper PA32RT300T, Valparaiso, IN, No damage. (-23) N3034A, Piper lance PA-32 IFR, crashed on takeoff from Porter county airport, Valparaiso, Indiana (vpz) off rw 36. On climb out to the north, banked to… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 14, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54584. 678 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 383 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432692&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40198240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage (item 5, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage-Redacted.PDF 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.