# NTSB CHI80FA026: Piper PA-32, N200BF, Ft Wayne, IN, February 22, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 22, 1980
- Place: Ft Wayne, IN · FT WAYNE, IN
- Location: 41.1306° N, 85.1289° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Wayne, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1306&lon=-85.1289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FA026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1768  80/2/22    FT WAYNE,IN         PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 455
        TIME - 2217                    N200BF              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 32 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FORT WAYNE MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ATHENS,GA                   FT WAYNE,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      270
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- ILS RWY 4.CRASHED ABEAM & ABT 1/5MI R OF THRESHOLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N200BF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200BF-1981-12-21), registration cancelled 1981-12-21, S/N 32-7740099, built 1977 (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: Destroyed
- Airport: Fort Wayne 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 19800222004069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800222004069A), Feb 22, 1980: Piper PA32300, Ft Wayne, IN, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot attempting IFR approach when weather was below approach minimums. Crashed short of runway.

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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