# NTSB CHI78FEK08: Piper PA-31, N7451L, Bluffton, OH, February 8, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 8, 1978
- Place: Bluffton, OH · BLUFFTON, OH
- Location: 40.8922° N, 83.8874° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bluffton, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8922&lon=-83.8874&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 6, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FEK08
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEK08

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0276   78/2/8    BLUFFTON,OH         PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 49, 4908
        TIME - 2130                    N7451L              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLUFFTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPARTA,TN                   BLUFFTON,OH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      280
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           4                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- APT UNATTENDED,LOCALIZED FOG NOT REPORTED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7451L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7451L-2008-05-20), registration cancelled 2008-05-20, S/N 31-847, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Bluffton

## 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 19780208003089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780208003089A), Feb 8, 1978: Piper PA31T1, Bluffton, OH, Substantial damage. Apt unattended,localized fog not reported.

## Other investigations on N7451L (1)

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 MIA96IA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96IA094), Mar 6, 1996: Piper PA-31-310 (N7451L), Charlotte, NC, incident, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: fatal incapacitation of the pilot due to a heart attack.

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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