# NTSB CHI73AC087: Piper PA-22, N3378B, Indianapolis, IN, May 8, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1973
- Place: Indianapolis, IN · INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Location: 39.7684° N, 86.1580° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Indianapolis, IN, within about 11 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7684&lon=-86.1580&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190763
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73AC087
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73AC087

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0865   73/5/8    INDIANAPOLIS,IND    PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 182
        TIME - 0904                    N3378B              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 49 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CINCINNATI,OHIO            UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: ATTITUDE GYRO
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     190
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           9                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO LOCALIZED POOR WEA COND. ATTITUDE GYRO INOP,KNOWN TO PLT BFOR TKOF.PLT TIME TO 11/8/70.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3378B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3378B-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 22-2177 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (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 19730508011719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730508011719A), May 8, 1973: Piper PA22, Indianapolis, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into localized poor wea cond. Attitude gyro inop,known to plt bfor tkof. Plt time to 11/8/70.

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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