# NTSB CHI81FA026: Piper PA-28, N8422C, Waupun, WI, February 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1981
- Place: Waupun, WI · WAUPUN, WI
- Location: 43.6315° N, 88.7375° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Waupun, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6315&lon=-88.7375&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0347  81/2/18    WAUPUN,WI           PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 204
        TIME - 0615                    N8422C              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - REABE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WAUPUN,WI                   OMAHA,NE
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 25000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- VFR FLT NOT REC.VIS RESTRICTED BY HAZE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8422C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8422C-1983-05-25), registration cancelled 1983-05-25, S/N 28-7690139 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Reabe

## 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 19810218004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810218004269A), Feb 18, 1981: Piper PA28181, Waupun, WI, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Crashed out of control shortly after takeoff in heavy fog. VFR pilot was advised VFR not recommended.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.