# NTSB CHI80FA019: Piper PA-28R, N7644J, Kankakee, IL, December 28, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 28, 1979
- Place: Kankakee, IL · KANKAKEE, IL
- Location: 41.1017° N, 87.8637° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kankakee, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1017&lon=-87.8637&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132119
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FA019
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA019

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3907  79/12/28 NR.KANKAKEE,IL        PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 734
        TIME - 1730                    N7644J              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HIGHLAND,IL                 MENDOTA,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    25000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          GROUND FOG                                               CALM
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- R TANK EMPTY,SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN L TANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7644J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7644J-2013-07-23), registration cancelled 2013-07-23, S/N 28R-31039, built 1969 (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)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19791228037919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791228037919A), Dec 28, 1979: Piper PA28180, Kankakee, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR pilot operted airplant into deteriorating weather at night. Found wreckage in open field.

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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