# NTSB CHI87LA217: Piper PA-32R-300, N8799E, Hillsdale, MI, September 22, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1987, 08:26 local (12:26 UTC)
- Place: Hillsdale, MI
- Coordinates: 41.920867, -84.630432 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9209&lon=-84.6304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13830
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87LA217
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13830/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA217

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

TKOF AND CLIMB TO 7000 FT WERE MADE ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK. SHORTLY AFTER LVL-OFF, THE PLT SWITCHED TO THE RT TANK AND STAYED ON IT DURING THE INITIAL CRUISE. THE PLT THEN SWITCHED BACK TO LEFT TANK AND ABT 10 MIN LATER THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE PWR. READINGS WERE NORMAL. THE PLT CONTACTED CLEVELAND CTR, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, SWITCHED TO 7700 ON THE TRANSPONDER, SET UP A DESCENT, AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO UNDERCAST AND STRUCK THE TOPS OF TREES WITH ITS LEFT WING. IT THEN ROLLED LEFT, STRUCK THE GRD AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND IN THE EXAM OF THE ENG OR FUEL SYSTEM THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE PARTIAL LOSS OF PWR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8799E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8799E-1989-03-14), registration cancelled 1989-03-14, S/N 32R7680179 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R7680179
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Prompt Air, Inc., doing business as Prompt Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Bill Wall
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1987, 45 hours before
- Departed: MDW, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: DET, DETROIT, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,200 total, 13 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 6 knots
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JXN, 7 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 19870922081079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870922081079A), Sep 22, 1987: Piper PA32R300, Hillsdale, MI, Destroyed. Engine lost power at cruise. Descended through clouds and hit a tree trying to land. Cause of power loss undetermined

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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