# NTSB CHI78FEP61: Beech C23, N18952, Portage, WI, August 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 18, 1978
- Place: Portage, WI · PORTAGE, WI
- Location: 43.5490° N, 89.4659° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Portage, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5490&lon=-89.4659&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139360
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FEP61
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEP61

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3558  78/8/18    PORTAGE,WI          BEECH C23           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 200
        TIME - 1842                    N18952              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PORTAGE MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DU PAGE,IL                  WAUTOMA,WI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        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 - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                            RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      82
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       45
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- OBSERVED FLYING AT LESS THAN 100FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N18952](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18952-1982-01-21), registration cancelled 1982-01-21, S/N M-1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Portage Muni

## 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 19780818027429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780818027429A), Aug 18, 1978: Beech C23, Portage, WI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed flying at less than 100FT.

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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