# NTSB CHI82DA043: Piper PA-28R-201, N8282Z, Mattoon, IL, February 9, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1982, 18:00 local (Feb 9, 1982, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Mattoon, IL
- Location: 39.4779° N, 88.2800° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at COLES COUNTY MEML (MTO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4779&lon=-88.2800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82DA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71610/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA043

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing light(s) - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT TOOKOFF WITH AN INOPERATIVE LANDING LIGHT. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION, IT WAS DARK AND SNOWING, AND THE VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT ONE MILE. AIRPORT PERSONNEL WERE REMOVING SNOW FROM THE LIGHTS ON RUNWAY 11/29. SNOW HAD BEEN CLEARED FROM THE LIGHTS ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF RUNWAY 29, THE CREW HAD PROGRESSED FROM THE THRESHOLD TO THE 11TH LIGHT. THEY REPORTED BEING IN RADIO CONTACT WITH N8282Z AND ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. THEY NOTIFIED THE AIRCRAFT OF THEIR POSITION WITH A SNOW PLOW OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT MADE AN ILS APPROACH. HE REPORTED SEEING LIGHTS ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT HE WENT OVER THE SNOW PLOW AND USED THE LIGHTS ON THE SIDE AS A REFERENCE TO LAND. DURING THE FLARE THE TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A SNOWBANK ABOUT 1000 FT BEYOND THE SNOW PLOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8282Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8282Z-1991-09-11), registration cancelled 1991-09-11, S/N 28R8118013 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201) (registry code 7102818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R8118013
- Airframe hours: 211
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edwin D. Buxton
- Registered owner: Edwin D. Buxton
- Departed: H84, FLORA, IL
- Destination: WINONA, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MTO, Coles County, runway 29, 6,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,357 total, 261 in this make and model, 3,166 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MTO

## 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 19820208004719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820208004719A), Feb 8, 1982: Piper PA28R200, Mattoon, IL, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting landing at night in snow without landing light. Landed off runway and crashed into snowdrift.

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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