# NTSB CHI80FA045: Piper PA32RT, N36839, South Bend, IN, June 6, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 6, 1980
- Place: South Bend, IN · SOUTH BEND, IN
- Location: 41.6834° N, 86.2500° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Bend, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6834&lon=-86.2500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FA045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA045

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1071   80/6/6    SOUTH BEND,IN       PIPER PA32RT        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 220
        TIME - 0443                    N36839              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MICHIANA REGIONAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          INDIANPOLIS,IN              SOUTH BEND,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: APPROACH LIGHTING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    2800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      RAIN, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     350
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           15                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LVL-0.156%.PLT RPRTD IN TURB & DISORIENTED.HIT TREES DRG BASE TURN ON DARK NGT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36839](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36839-1982-09-23), registration cancelled 1982-09-23, S/N 32R-7885218, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Michiana Regional

## 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 19800606018429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800606018429A), Jun 6, 1980: Piper PA32RT300, South Bend, IN, Destroyed. Tried to land with thunderstorm, rain, dark night, gusty winds. Hit trees on third try. Alcohol also involved.

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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