- Date
- August 29, 1984, 10:57 local (15:57 UTC)
- Place
- Muncie, IN
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4355NPiper PA-28RT-201
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840829044339A
- Case key
- 12425
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
Witnesses reported that when the acft was taking off, the eng sounded 'rough & was backfiring.' They observed the acft cross the departure end of the rwy at a lower alt & slower speed than what they considered as normal. They saw the acft's wings rock, then observed the acft to enter a steep left turn back toward the arpt. While turning, the gear extended as the acft was approaching to cross over a treeline. Shortly after that, the left wing hit a tree (73 ft AGL), then the acft crashed & was demolished by fire. During the investigation, an exam of the wreckage and a teardown of the eng did not reveal the reason for the power loss. Both front seat occupants were rated plts. The occupant in the left front seat did not have a current bfr, but the right front seat plt was a certified flt instructor.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4355N
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28RT-201 (PA-28RT-20)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R8431023
- Airframe hours
- 69
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Munci Aviation Co.
- Registered owner
- Piper Aircraft Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MIE
- Destination
- MGY · Dayton, OH
- Airport
- Johnson Field, runway 20, 4,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 845 total · 25 in this make and model · 716 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MIE, 1 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.