CHI87FA153

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28R · Milwaukee, WI · June 22, 1987

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
June 21, 1987, 22:10 local (Jun 22, 1987, 03:10 UTC)
Place
Milwaukee, WI
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N2678RPiper PA-28R
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report April 24, 1989
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19870621020749A
Case key
13647

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 objectApproach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Performed
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Weather condition - below approach/landing minimumsFactor
Ifr procedure - improperPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)Factor
Proper glidepath - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Drg arr at the Milwaukee/lawrence j timmerman arpt, the plt made 2 atmts to use the localizer 15L apch. After the 2nd missed apch, he elected to divert to Milwaukee/general mitchell fld (mke). At that time, he was adzd the mke wx was 300' ovc, 1/4 mi vis with fog, RVR 3500'. The plt was continually adzd of the RVR at mke. Initially, the RVR was vrbl btn abt 6000 & 3500 ft. after being clrd for the apch, the plt acknowledged clnc to twr freq, but delayed freq chg untilreminded. When he finally contacted the twr, he was clrd to land. He was adzd the RVR had dropped to 2000', then about 1 min later, was told it was 1800', but the plt did not reply. After about another min, an ELT signal was heard for about 2 sec & radio contact was lost with the acft. The aircraft had hit a treetop, crashed & burned about 1/4 mi fm the apch end of rwy 7. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was fnd. Ten min after the acdnt, mke wx was in part: 100' obscured, 1/4 mi with fog. Mins for the apch were 200' ceiling & 1/2 mi vis or 2400' RVR.

Aircraft

Registration
N2678R
Reported as
Piper PA-28R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
35246
Airframe hours
2,945
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert C. Eidt
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 16, 1987 · 28 hours before
Departed
MSP · Minneapolis, MN
Destination
MKE · Milwaukee, WI
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
MKE · General Mitchell Field, runway 7, 8,010 × 150 ft

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
64
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
1,100 total

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
20° at 4 knots
Lowest ceiling
200 ft
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
MKE

FAA reports on this event · 1

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