# NTSB CHI81FA028: Piper PA-28R, N7496J, Fort Wayne, IN, February 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1981
- Place: Fort Wayne, IN · FORT 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: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127320
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA028
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA028

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0188  81/2/18    FORT WAYNE,IN       PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2253                    N7496J              PX-  0  0  1  AIR TAXI-CARGO            AGE 35, 1400 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            161 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BAER FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SOUTH BEND,IN               FORT 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 - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       47
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          230                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- CRASHED APRX 2600FT L OF RWY 4 CENTERLINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7496J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7496J-1989-06-05), registration cancelled 1989-06-05, S/N 28R30858 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Baer Field

## 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 19810218004359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810218004359A), Feb 18, 1981: Piper PA28R180, Fort Wayne, IN, Destroyed. Pilot descended below minimums on ILS approach and crashed 1/8 mile from airport.

## Other investigations on N7496J (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI75FET02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75FET02), Jul 20, 1974: Piper PA-28R (N7496J), Huntington, IN, substantial damage

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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