# NTSB CHI98LA324: Piper PA-28-181, N30561, Michigan City, IN, August 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 1998, 02:30 local (06:30 UTC) - Place: Michigan City, IN - Coordinates: 41.709411, -86.870201 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7094&lon=-86.8702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43797/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA324 ## Probable cause the pilot departed into known adverse weather and failed to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor was the fog. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported he had cancelled his IFR flight plan from St. Louis, Missouri, to Gary, Indiana, and proceeded to Michigan City, Indiana, using flight following. The pilot reported he landed at Michigan City at 0330 in light ground fog. He reported that the ground fog was 'no problem.' He reported, 'Upon departing 02, the fog suddenly obscured the runway. I proceeded to cut the power and came to rest in a field adjacent to the runway.' The 0253 EDT weather at Benton Harbor, Michigan, 31 nautical miles to the northeast, was reporting the temperature as 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Dew Point was 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The 0254 EDT weather at South Bend, Indiana, 22 nautical miles to the east, was reporting the temperature as 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Dew Point was 62 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 1998, at 0330 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N30561, was substantially damaged when it went off runway 02 during an aborted takeoff. The private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was departing the Michigan City Airport, Michigan City, Indiana, with Gary Regional Airport, Gary, Indiana, as the destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had landed departed Little Rock, Arkansas and landed in St. Louis, Missouri. He then departed St. Louis en route to Gary, Indiana. He cancelled his IFR flight plan to Gary and proceeded to Michigan City, Indiana, using flight following. The pilot reported he landed at Michigan City at 0330 in light ground fog. He reported that the ground fog was "no problem." He reported, "Upon departing 02, the fog suddenly obscured the runway. I proceeded to cut the power and came to rest in a field adjacent to the runway." The 0253 EDT weather at Benton Harbor, Michigan, 31 nautical miles to the northeast, was reporting the temperature as 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Dew Point was 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The 0254 EDT weather at South Bend, Indiana, 22 nautical miles to the east, was reporting the temperature as 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Dew Point was 62 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30561](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30561), registered now, S/N 28-7990096, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7990096 - Airframe hours: 4793 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lester S. Green - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1998, 10 hours before - Departed: MCG - Destination: GYY, GARY, IN - Airport: MGC, Michigan City Airport, runway 2, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 864 total, 802 in this make and model, 864 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BEH ## 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 19980816022249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980816022249A), Aug 16, 1998: Piper PA28181, Michigan City, IN, Substantial damage. Acft aborted takeoff and landed in a field on the side of the rwy. (.19) on August 16, 1998, at 0230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N30561, was… ## Other investigations on N30561 (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC86LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86LA073), Mar 22, 1986: Piper PA-28-181 (N30561), Oil Trough, AR, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.