# NTSB CHI79FA022: Piper PA-28R, N3712T, Grissom Afb, IN, December 30, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 30, 1978
- Place: Grissom Afb, IN · GRISSOM AFB, IN
- Location: 40.6571° N, 86.1454° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grissom AFB, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6571&lon=-86.1454&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138052
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4299  78/12/30   GRISSOM AFB,IN      PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 1100
        TIME - 1835                    N3712T              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 341 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRISSOM AFB
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OMAHA,NE                    KOKOMO,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: BUILDING(S)                               LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       39
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           NONE
        REMARKS- MANEUVER AFTER MISSED APPROACH.COLLIDED WITH AMMO BUNKER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3712T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3712T-1981-01-12), registration cancelled 1981-01-12, S/N 28R-30016, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Grissom Afb

## 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 19781230045349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781230045349A), Dec 30, 1978: Piper PA28R180, Grissom Afb, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Maneuver after missed approach. Collided with ammo bunker.

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.