# NTSB CHI76AC014: Piper PA-32, N3821W, Fort Wayne, IN, August 15, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 15, 1975
- Place: Fort Wayne, IN · FORT WAYNE, IN
- Location: 41.1306° N, 85.1289° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Wayne, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1306&lon=-85.1289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 150480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI76AC014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76AC014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3591  75/8/15    FORT WAYNE,IN       PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 590
        TIME - 2024                    N3821W              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 400 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BROOMFIELD,CO               FORT WAYNE,IN                ST JOSEPH,MO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
          PILOT-METRO COND NOT ADEQUATE FOR TRRN ASSESSMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       69
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           40                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- ACFT HEARD AT LOW ALT,BFR CRASH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3821W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3821W-1975-08-15), registration cancelled 1975-08-15, S/N 32-752 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (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 19750815034809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750815034809A), Aug 15, 1975: Piper PA32260, Fort Wayne, IN, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Acft heard at low alt,bfr crash. Pilot-metro cond not adequate for trrn assessment

## Other investigations on N3821W (3)

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 CHI73FEG10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEG10), Oct 27, 1972: Piper PA-32 (N3821W), Blue Creek, OH, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI71DBJ58](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71DBJ58), Feb 28, 1971: Piper PA-32 (N3821W), Boyne Falls, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB MKC68D0319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC68D0319), Oct 16, 1967: Piper PA-32 (N3821W), Winner, SD, substantial damage

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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