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February 14, 1983 · Piper PA-44-180T · N8278T

Indianapolis, IN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 14, 1983
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries)
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Aircraft
Piper PA-44-180T
Tail Number
N8278T
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI83FA114

DURING AN ILS APCH TO RWY 22R, APCH CONTROL ASKED THE PLT TO KEEP HIS SPEED UP AS MUCH AS PRACTICAL. AT A LATER INTER- VIEW, THE PLT COULD NOT REMEMBER DETAILS OF THE APCH. HE RECALLED PUTTING THE GEAR DOWN AT THE OUTER MARKER (OM) & USING THE AUTOPILOT TO MAINTAIN HIS AZIMUTH ON THE ILS CENTERLINE, BUT MANUALLY CONTROLLING HIS SPEED & RATE OF DESCENT.HE COULD NOT RECALL WHETHER OR NOT HE CAPTURED THE ILS GLIDE SLOPE. HE MONITORED THE RADIO USING HIS HEADSET & ASKED THEPASSENGER (WITH PREVIOUS FLT EXPERIENCE) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT TO MONITOR FOR NO LESS THAN 1000 FT MSL & 80 KTS AIRSPEED. TOWER PERSONNEL REPORTED WHEN HE WAS 1 1/2 MI & 1 MI ON FINAL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE SUDDENLY SAW THE RWY AND STARTED DOWN TO LAND. AT ABOUT THAT TIME HE SAW THE RED LIGHTS AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY & INITIATED A GO- AROUND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ALONG A FENCE ROW, APRX 25 FT AGL. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION/ FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PAX COULD NOT HEAR THE RADIO, BUT SAW APPROX 800 FT ON THE ALTIMETER WHEN THE RUNWAY WAS SIGHTED.

Full Narrative

DURING AN ILS APCH TO RWY 22R, APCH CONTROL ASKED THE PLT TO KEEP HIS SPEED UP AS MUCH AS PRACTICAL. AT A LATER INTER- VIEW, THE PLT COULD NOT REMEMBER DETAILS OF THE APCH. HE RECALLED PUTTING THE GEAR DOWN AT THE OUTER MARKER (OM) & USING THE AUTOPILOT TO MAINTAIN HIS AZIMUTH ON THE ILS CENTERLINE, BUT MANUALLY CONTROLLING HIS SPEED & RATE OF DESCENT.HE COULD NOT RECALL WHETHER OR NOT HE CAPTURED THE ILS GLIDE SLOPE. HE MONITORED THE RADIO USING HIS HEADSET & ASKED THEPASSENGER (WITH PREVIOUS FLT EXPERIENCE) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT TO MONITOR FOR NO LESS THAN 1000 FT MSL & 80 KTS AIRSPEED. TOWER PERSONNEL REPORTED WHEN HE WAS 1 1/2 MI & 1 MI ON FINAL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE SUDDENLY SAW THE RWY AND STARTED DOWN TO LAND. AT ABOUT THAT TIME HE SAW THE RED LIGHTS AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY & INITIATED A GO- AROUND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ALONG A FENCE ROW, APRX 25 FT AGL. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION/ FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PAX COULD NOT HEAR THE RADIO, BUT SAW APPROX 800 FT ON THE ALTIMETER WHEN THE RUNWAY WAS SIGHTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:59 EST
Nearest AirportIndianapolis (2nm SW)
Runway22R
Runway Length10005 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-44-180T
Tail NumberN8278T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TO-360-E1A6D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind150° @ 7 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point25 C / 23 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time04:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data