# NTSB CHI84FA374: Piper PA-28-180F, N3963R, Cable, WI, August 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1984, 21:45 local (Aug 4, 1984, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Cable, WI
- Coordinates: 46.190895, -91.299621 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1909&lon=-91.2996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12426
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA374
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12426/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA374

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - motivation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & GROUND DURING IMC WX AT NIGHT. THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING AT 1731 HRS CDT BY PHONE FROM HIBBING FSS. HE WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. NO OTHER WX BRIEFING FOR THIS FLT WAS RECORDED. WITNESSES AT THE ARPT OF DEPARTURE SAID THE WX WAS DETERIORATING AS THE PLT PREPARED TO LEAVE. HE SAID HE COULD POP THRUTHE LOW SCUD WITH NO PROBLEM. THE ARPT MGR CALLED HIM ON UNICOM WHEN SHE HEARD THE ENG START TO ASK HIM IF HE WAS LEAVING. HE SAID HE WAS BECAUSE THE WX WAS FORECAST TO WORSEN BY MORNING. HE DEPARTED AT ABOUT 2145 HRS EDT ON RWY 16. THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES FOR 20-30 SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF AND WAS SEEN MAKINGA SLIGHT TURN TO THE SW. THIS WAS THE LAST TIME THE ACFT WAS SEEN IN FLT. THE WRECKAGE WAS NOT LOCATED FOR 30 DAYS. THE ARPT MGR LATER STATED THAT THE VISIBILITY AT THE ARPT THAT NIGHT WAS LIMITED TO 1500 FT DUE TO GROUND FOG. ANOTHER PLT TERMINATED HIS FLT DUE TO THE FOG AND SAID THAT THE AREA HAD BEEN ABOUT 50 PERCENT COVERED BY FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3963R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287105068
- Airframe hours: 3341
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Eleanor E. Strauck
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 1984, 22 hours before
- Departed: 3CU, CABLE, WI
- Destination: VPZ, VALPARAISO, IN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 88 total, 18 in this make and model, 58 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EAU, 80 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 19840803046869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840803046869A), Aug 3, 1984: Piper PA28180, Cable, WI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Night takeoff into poor visibility. Impacted trees shortly after takeoff in a 40 degree bank nose down attitude.

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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