# NTSB CHI76AC077: Piper PA-28, N7915N, Columbus, IN, July 5, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 5, 1976
- Place: Columbus, IN · COLUMBUS, IN
- Location: 39.2073° N, 85.9220° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Columbus, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2073&lon=-85.9220&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 21, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155109
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI76AC077
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76AC077

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4079   76/7/5  NR.COLUMBUS,IN        DEHAVILLAND DHC-1   CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 5758
        TIME - 1601                    N9154               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 78 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  4  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          SEYMOUR,IN                  NEW CASTLE,IN                INDIANAPOLIS,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - NOT INSTALLED
        REMARKS- N9154 OBSERVED CROSSING BACK & FORTH OVER TOP OF N7915N THEN DECENDING ONTO THE PIPER ACFT.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4079   76/7/5  NR.COLUMBUS,IN        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1601                    N7915N              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 38, 1951 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  1  0  0                            1198 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          SEYMOUR,IN                  NEW CASTLE,IN                INDIANAPOLIS,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- CLOSE FORMATION FLT HOME AFTER PARTICIPATION IN AIR SHOW.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N7915N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7915N-1977-07-21), registration cancelled 1977-07-21, S/N 28-5327 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N9154](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9154-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N C1-0589, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-1
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-1) (registry code 2801702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19760705041891A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760705041891A), Jul 5, 1976: Piper PA28180, Columbus, IN, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Close formation flt home after participation in air show.
- [Accident 19760705041892A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760705041892A), Jul 5, 1976: Dhav DHC1B2, Columbus, IN, Destroyed. N9154 observed crossing back & forth over top of N7915N then decending onto the Piper acft.

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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