Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-28-180 N3331R

14 January 1989 · Valparaiso, Indiana, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 14 January 1989 at about 18:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N3331R was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 18:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Valparaiso, Indiana, United States
Nearest airport
Porter County (VP2)
Coordinates
41.4695, -87.0498
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-180
Registration
N3331R
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI89LA045

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 0 0 3

Probable cause

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INADVERTENT FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS AND RAPID ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO FLARE DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION WITH ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

NO PREFLIGHT WX BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED BEFORE THE FLT. DURING CLIMB-OUT, THE PLT HEARD ABOUT ICING CONDITIONS AT A NEARBY AIRPORT & ELECTED TO RETURN & LAND. BEFORE LANDING, HE ENCOUNTERED FREEZING RAIN & A RAPID ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON THE ACFT. ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD RESTRICTED THE PLT'S FORWARD VISIBILITY, REQUIRING HIM TO USE THE SIDE WINDOWS. DURING THE FLARE TO LAND, HE RAISED THE NOSE OF THE ACFT TO ARREST A SINK RATE, BUT THE ACFT LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
9 Jul 1989 Piper PA-28-161
N2752M
Beverly, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
Beverly Flight Center, Inc. Minor injuries -
9 Oct 1989 Piper PA-28
N6340R
Delavan, Minnesota, United States - Fatal 2
24 Oct 1989 Piper PA-28-161
N36163
Elkader, Iowa, United States Pritts Aviation Fatal 2
21 Jan 1989 Piper PA-28-180
N16375
Chicago, Illinois, United States Michael J. Belica Fatal 2
14 Jul 1989 Piper PA-28-160
N5913W
Hammond, New York, United States - Minor injuries -
9 Jun 1989 Piper PA-28-180
N33320
Ashland, Virginia, United States
no coordinates
A & S Flying Services Fatal 1

All 9,402 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
30 Sep 1989 Beechcraft A36TC
N2YS
Greencastle, Indiana, United States - Fatal 3
5 Sep 1989 Boeing 767-231
N608TW
Knox, Indiana, United States Trans World Airlines Inc. Minor injuries -
29 Oct 1989 Bell 47G-2A-1
N500CD
Plymouth, Indiana, United States - No injuries -
22 Mar 1989 Cessna 150L
N5228Q
Sellersburg, Indiana, United States - No injuries -
26 Mar 1989 Beechcraft 95-B-55
N27WF
Crothersville, Indiana, United States Casebolt, FON Minor injuries -
9 Nov 1989 Beechcraft A36
N951V
Angola, Indiana, United States Dynamation, Inc. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States