# NTSB CHI78FA059: Mooney M20C, N44JH, Valparaiso, IN, August 13, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 13, 1978
- Place: Valparaiso, IN · VALPARAISO, IN
- Location: 41.4798° N, 87.0523° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Valparaiso, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4798&lon=-87.0523&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139481
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FA059
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FA059

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4301  78/8/13    VALPARAISO,IN       MOONEY M20C         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 54,
        TIME - 0815                    N44JH               PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PORTER COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PONTIAC,MI                  VALPARAISO,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNQUALIFIED PERSON OPERATED AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          FOG                                                       0
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- NO PILOT LICENSE OR MEDICAL ON FILE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44JH-1981-12-23), registration cancelled 1981-12-23, S/N 3076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Porter County

## 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 19780813043179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780813043179A), Aug 13, 1978: Mooney M20C, Valparaiso, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. No pilot license or medical on file.

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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