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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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November 19, 1982 · Piper PA-44-180 · N2161N

Mccutchanville, IN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 19, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Mccutchanville, IN
Aircraft
Piper PA-44-180
Tail Number
N2161N
Operator
Brack Frank & Associates
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI83FA042

AT ABOUT 0401 EST, THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON AN IFR FLIGHT AND WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 6000 FT MSL. RADAR CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED AT ABOUT 0402. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 30 SECONDS, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ABOUT 3 TO 4 MI FROM THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND STRUCTURE WERE MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINES WERE OPERATING AT HIGH POWER UNTIL IMPACT. THE TOTAL CARGO LOAD (BAGS AND BOXES) WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 399 LBS. NO CARGO NET WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE, BUT SEVERAL TIEDOWN ROPES WERE FOUND. THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CARGO SHIFTING WAS CONSIDERED, BUT WAS NOT DETERMINED. IF THE CARGO HAD SHIFTEDFULL AFT DURING THE CLIMB, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY ABOUT .5% BEHIND THE AFT CG LIMIT.

Full Narrative

AT ABOUT 0401 EST, THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON AN IFR FLIGHT AND WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 6000 FT MSL. RADAR CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED AT ABOUT 0402. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 30 SECONDS, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ABOUT 3 TO 4 MI FROM THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND STRUCTURE WERE MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINES WERE OPERATING AT HIGH POWER UNTIL IMPACT. THE TOTAL CARGO LOAD (BAGS AND BOXES) WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 399 LBS. NO CARGO NET WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE, BUT SEVERAL TIEDOWN ROPES WERE FOUND. THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CARGO SHIFTING WAS CONSIDERED, BUT WAS NOT DETERMINED. IF THE CARGO HAD SHIFTEDFULL AFT DURING THE CLIMB, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY ABOUT .5% BEHIND THE AFT CG LIMIT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time04:03 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway4
Runway Length8021 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-44-180
Tail NumberN2161N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorBrack Frank & Associates
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-E1A60 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 24 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind150° @ 8 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingOvercast 600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time03:49

Appendix: Source Data