# NTSB CHI79FA057: Piper PA-22, N3027Z, St Charles, IL, July 4, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 4, 1979
- Place: St Charles, IL · ST CHARLES, IL
- Location: 41.9194° N, 88.3107° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Charles, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9194&lon=-88.3107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA057
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA057

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3522   79/7/4  NR.ST CHARLES,IL      PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 65, 255
        TIME - 0130                    N3027Z              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 134 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MORRIS,IL                  ST CHARLES,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  900
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       61
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           10                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT'S BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL .056%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3027Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3027Z-1984-11-05), registration cancelled 1984-11-05, S/N 22-6981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Dupage 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 19790704040799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790704040799A), Jul 4, 1979: Piper PA22160, St Charles, IL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost control of airplane on night flight with rain, fog & thunderstorms in area. No ground reference lights.

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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