# NTSB CHI79DA066: Piper PA-31, N27715, Bluffton, OH, August 23, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 23, 1979
- 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: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133762
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79DA066
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79DA066

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3529  79/8/23    BLUFFTON,OH         PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0038                    N27715              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            36, 3555 TOTAL HOURS, 500
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BLUFFTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          YPSILANTI,MI                BLUFFTON,OH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      LIGHT AND VARIABLE
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           67                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27715](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27715-1982-07-29), registration cancelled 1982-07-29, S/N 31-7852115, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- 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 19790823040699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790823040699A), Aug 23, 1979: Piper PA31350, Bluffton, OH, Destroyed. Tried 8 times to make visual approach to fog-shrouded airport before striking trees near airport.

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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