CHI83FA114

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-44-180T · Indianapolis, IN · February 14, 1983

Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
February 13, 1983, 22:59 local (Feb 14, 1983, 03:59 UTC)
Place
Indianapolis, IN
Injuries
1 serious, 2 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N8278TPiper PA-44-180T
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830213005929A
Case key
11978

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Ifr procedure - improperPilot in commandCause
Proper glidepath - not obtainedPilot in commandCause
Decision height - not identifiedPilot in commandCause
Missed approach - delayedPilot in commandCause
Proper climb rate - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
Lack of recent instrument timePilot in commandFactor
Object - tree(s)Factor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - open fieldFactor

Analysis

During an ILS apch to rwy 22R, apch control asked the plt to keep his speed up as much as practical. At a later inter- view, the plt could not remember details of the apch. He recalled putting the gear down at the outer marker (om) & using the autopilot to maintain his azimuth on the ILS centerline, but manually controlling his speed & rate of descent. He could not recall whether or not he captured the ILS glide slope. He monitored the radio using his headset & asked thepassenger (with previous flt experience) in the right front seat to monitor for no less than 1000 ft MSL & 80 KTS airspeed. Tower personnel reported when he was 1 1/2 mi & 1 mi on final. The plt reported that he suddenly saw the rwy and started down to land. At about that time he saw the red lights at the departure end of the rwy & initiated a go- around. Shortly after that, the acft collided with trees along a fence row, aprx 25 ft AGL. No preimpact malfunction/ failure was found. The pax could not hear the radio, but saw approx 800 ft on the altimeter when the runway was sighted.

Aircraft

Registration
N8278T
Reported as
Piper PA-44-180T
Category
Airplane
Serial number
448107024
Airframe hours
265
Engine
Lycoming TO-360-E1A6D, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
L/S Equipment Co.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 14, 1982 · 18 hours before
Departed
MEM · Memphis, TN
Destination
IND · Indianapolis, IN
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
IND · Indianapolis, runway 22R, 10,005 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
51
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,344 total · 8 in this make and model · 8 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
150° at 7 knots
Temperature
25 °F, dew point 23 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
IND, 2 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.