# NTSB CHI83LA330: Piper PA-32-260, N3744W, Demotte, IN, July 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1983, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Demotte, IN
- Coordinates: 41.159294, -87.260101 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1593&lon=-87.2601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12275
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA330
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12275/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA330

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED HE OVERFLEW THE UNFAMILIAR ARPT & LANDED TO THE SOUTH (DOWNWIND) BECAUSE OF POWER LINES ON THE APPROACH TO THE NORTH. HE WAS HIGH ON FINAL DUE TO A TREE IN THE APPROACH PATH. THE ACFT FLOATED DURING THE FLARE. HE THEN RAISEDTHE NOSE & THE RIGHT WING DROPPED 'INDICATING STALL.' POWER WAS THEN ADDED AS THE NOSE WAS LOWERED. THE ACFT WAS THEN APPROACHING THE END OF THE RWY & STILL 5 FT AGL. THE PLT ELECTED TO REDUCE POWER & LAND. HE TURNED INTO A CORN FIELD TO AVOID A DITCH & OTHER OBSTACLES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3744W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3744W-1989-11-03), registration cancelled 1989-11-03, S/N 32658 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32658
- Airframe hours: 2430
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: George D. Owens
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1982, 47 hours before
- Departed: C16, CHAMPAIGN, IL
- Airport: 3C0, Demotte, runway 18, 3,390 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 1,012 total, 852 in this make and model, 930 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GYY, 30 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830724037199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830724037199A), Jul 24, 1983: Piper PA32260, Demotte, IN, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted downwind landing on unfamiliar runway. Pilot turned off runway into corn field to avoid obstacles.

## Other investigations on N3744W (2)

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 ATL85LA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA126), Mar 30, 1985: Piper PA-32-260 (N3744W), Blairsville, GA, substantial damage
- [NTSB DIA68F0175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA68F0175), Mar 10, 1968: Piper PA-32 (N3744W), Fayetteville, NC, 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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