Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gary, Indiana 46405
Friday, May 27, 1988 11:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON THE RETURN LEG OF A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT 150' ABOVE THE WATER ALONG THE SHORELINE. THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED FROM THE TASK OF FLYING THE AIRPLANE BY NAVIGATION DUTIES (THE FREQUENCY, AND ADJUSTMENT, AND TUNING OF THE VOR), AND SUFFICIENT VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS NOT MAINTAINED. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNNOTICED GRADUAL DESCENT, STRUCK THE WATER AND SANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1105
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GARY
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46405
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1249 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID GYY
Elevation of weather observation facility 591
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 476
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 27 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36182
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5658G
NTSB Number CHI88LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150K
Aircraft Series Identifier 150K
Aircraft Serial Number 15071158
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 4 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 4462
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WADE PALMER ENTERPRISES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1425 SAUK TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City CHICAGO HEIGHTS
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60411
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3HA
Departure City LANSING
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1035
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --