# NTSB CHI78FET05: Cessna 414, N414BA, Valparaiso, IN, December 8, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 8, 1977
- 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: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FET05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FET05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4262   77/12/8 NR.VALPARAISO,IN      CESSNA 414          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 63, 20000
        TIME - 1445                    N414BA              PX-  0  0  4  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 1953 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PORTER COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          WAUKEGON,IL                VALPARAISO,IN                 GARY,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: AIRPORT HAZARD                            LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - AIRPORT SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: IMPROPER/INADEQUATE SNOW REMOVAL
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: HIDDEN HAZARD
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: SNOW ON RUNWAY
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              5
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- STRUCK RIDGE OF ICE ON RUNWAY COVERED WITH SNOW.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N414BA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N414BA), registered now, S/N 414-0047, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414
- Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- 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 19771208038409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771208038409A), Dec 8, 1977: Cessna 414, Valparaiso, IN, Substantial damage. Struck ridge of ice on runway covered with snow.

## Other investigations on N414BA (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 WPR25FA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA169), Jun 8, 2025: Cessna 414 (N414BA), San Diego, CA, substantial damage, 6 fatal, investigation ongoing

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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