# NTSB CHI81FA016: Piper PA-28R, N8708E, Elkhart, IN, December 31, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 31, 1980
- Place: Elkhart, IN · ELKHART, IN
- Location: 41.6952° N, 85.9554° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elkhart, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6952&lon=-85.9554&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 21, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127737
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3683  80/12/31   ELKHART,IN          PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 400
        TIME - 1202                    N8708E              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ELKHART MUNICIPAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BLOOMINGTON,IN              ELKHART,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- SIGMET OF MDT,OCNLY SVR ICGICIP PROVIDED.LNDD HARD DRG VOR APCH.3/4IN ICE ON HORIZ STAB.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8708E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8708E-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N 28R-7635197, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Elkhart Municipal

## 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 19801231080479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801231080479A), Dec 31, 1980: Piper PA28R200, Elkhart, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Loaded with ice, landing impact on runway drove gear struts through wings. Begango-around, stalled, crashed .

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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