# NTSB CHI79FA002: Piper PA-32R, N61424, Elgin, IL, October 5, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 5, 1979
- Place: Elgin, IL · ELGIN, IL
- Location: 42.0372° N, 88.2812° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elgin, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0372&lon=-88.2812&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 20, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133376
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2497   79/10/5   ELGIN,IL            PIPER PA-32R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 338
        TIME - 0532                    N61424              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 53 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ELGIN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELGIN,IL                    OLEAN,NY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          PILOT-FAILED TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          320                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N61424 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Elgin

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.