# NTSB CHI87FA153: Piper PA-28R, N2678R, Milwaukee, WI, June 22, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1987, 22:10 local (Jun 22, 1987, 03:10 UTC)
- Place: Milwaukee, WI
- Coordinates: 42.979843, -87.89994 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9798&lon=-87.8999&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13647
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87FA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13647/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87FA153

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - performed
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2678R-2000-03-08), registration cancelled 2000-03-08, S/N 28R-35246 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35246
- Airframe hours: 2945
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870621020749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870621020749A), Jun 21, 1987: Piper PA28R200, Milwaukee, WI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Diverted to Milwaukee after 2 attempts at timmerman. Hit trees,crashed inverted on first attempt. No safe alternate.

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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