# NTSB CHI77FA028: Piper PA-32, N31CA, Sugar Grove, IL, February 12, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 12, 1977
- Place: Sugar Grove, IL · SUGAR GROVE, IL
- Location: 41.7774° N, 88.4465° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sugar Grove, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7774&lon=-88.4465&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152430
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FA028
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA028

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4183  77/2/12  NR.SUGAR GROVE,IL     PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 370
        TIME - 1117                    N31CA               PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 41 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - AURORA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         SUGAR GROVE,IL               PEORIA, IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31CA-1980-12-16), registration cancelled 1980-12-16, S/N 32-7200032, built 1972 (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
- Airport: Aurora

## 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 19770212038429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770212038429A), Feb 12, 1977: Piper PA32260, Sugar Grove, IL, Destroyed, 3 fatal

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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