# NTSB CHI79FEE18: Piper PA-32, N4175R, West Chicago, IL, December 7, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 7, 1978
- Place: West Chicago, IL · WEST CHICAGO, IL
- Location: 41.8953° N, 88.2205° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Chicago, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8953&lon=-88.2205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138149
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FEE18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEE18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4465   78/12/7   WEST CHICAGO,IL     PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 22, 476
        TIME - 1341                    N4175R              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, 150 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DUPAGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WEST CHICAGO,IL             OTTAWA,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-WINDSHIELD
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - NOT ALIGNED WITH RUNWAY/INTENDED LANDING AREA
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: RUNWAY LIGHTING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          FREEZING RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      LEFT CROSS WIND 248-292 DEGREES
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      SPECIAL VFR
        REMARKS- RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE COVERED WITH SNOW. A NONSTANDARD APPROACH LIGHT SYSTEM WAS OPERATING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4175R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4175R-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N 32-40498, built 1968 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Dupage

## 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 19781207042489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781207042489A), Dec 7, 1978: Piper PA32300, IL, Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N4175R (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC89LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA152), Jul 4, 1989: Piper PA-32-300 (N4175R), Excelsor Sprgs, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND…

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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