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August 29, 1984 · Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · N4355N
Muncie, IN
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 29, 1984
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Muncie, IN
Aircraft
Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20
Tail Number
N4355N
Operator
Munci Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI84FA369
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT WHEN THE ACFT WAS TAKING OFF, THE ENG SOUNDED 'ROUGH & WAS BACKFIRING.' THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT CROSS THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY AT A LOWER ALT & SLOWER SPEED THAN WHAT THEY CONSIDERED AS NORMAL. THEY SAW THE ACFT'S WINGS ROCK, THEN OBSERVED THE ACFT TO ENTER A STEEP LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. WHILE TURNING, THE GEAR EXTENDED AS THE ACFT WAS APPROACHING TO CROSS OVER A TREELINE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE LEFT WING HIT A TREE (73 FT AGL), THEN THE ACFT CRASHED & WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE AND A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG DID NOT REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS. BOTH FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE RATED PLTS. THE OCCUPANT IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT BFR, BUT THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PLT WAS A CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR.
Full Narrative
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT WHEN THE ACFT WAS TAKING OFF, THE ENG SOUNDED 'ROUGH & WAS BACKFIRING.' THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT CROSS THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY AT A LOWER ALT & SLOWER SPEED THAN WHAT THEY CONSIDERED AS NORMAL. THEY SAW THE ACFT'S WINGS ROCK, THEN OBSERVED THE ACFT TO ENTER A STEEP LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT. WHILE TURNING, THE GEAR EXTENDED AS THE ACFT WAS APPROACHING TO CROSS OVER A TREELINE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE LEFT WING HIT A TREE (73 FT AGL), THEN THE ACFT CRASHED & WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE AND A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG DID NOT REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS. BOTH FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE RATED PLTS. THE OCCUPANT IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT BFR, BUT THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PLT WAS A CERTIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:57 EDT
Nearest AirportJohnson Field (1nm S)
Runway20
Runway Length4200 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20
Tail NumberN4355N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMunci Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 62 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 10 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time15:45
Weather SourceWFAC