# NTSB CHI79FA036: Piper PA-32, N4047R, Dekalb, IL, March 19, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 19, 1979
- Place: Dekalb, IL · DEKALB, IL
- Location: 41.9282° N, 88.7476° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of DeKalb, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9282&lon=-88.7476&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137097
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1133  79/3/19    DEKALB,IL           PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 23, 192
        TIME - 0130                    N4047R              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 18 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DEKALB MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          DAUPHIN IS,AL               DEKALB,IL                    PADUCAH,KY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        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
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4047R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4047R-1982-11-02), registration cancelled 1982-11-02, S/N 32-40346 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Dekalb 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 19790319017129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790319017129A), Mar 19, 1979: Piper PA32300, Dekalb, IL, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Aircraft crashed during IFR weather conditions. Pilot was not certified in type of operation.

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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