Cooper Pvt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Belleville, Indiana 46118
Saturday, September 19, 1987 19:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO AN UNLIGHTED PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AFTER A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT. THE SUN HAD SET BUT, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE SKY WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO SET UP AN APPROACH, BUT WHEN ESTABLISHED ON FINAL HE 'LOST SIGHT' OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE EXECUTED A 'LOW' GO-AROUND TO TRY AND SPOT THE RUNWAY, THEN ELECTED TO TRY A SECOND APPROACH. AGAIN THE PILOT REPORTEDLY 'LOST SIGHT' OF THE RUNWAY ON FINAL. THE PILOT STATED HE DECIDED TO PERFORM ANOTHER GO-AROUND AND FLY TO A NEAR-BY AIRPORT WITH LIGHTS. THE PILOT WAS STARTING THE SECOND GO-AROUND ATTEMPT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE, FLIPPING IT OVER ONTO ITS BACK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/19/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BELLEVILLE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46118
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COOPER PVT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 68I
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 860
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID IND
Elevation of weather observation facility 797
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1769
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 19 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35112
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7108B
NTSB Number CHI87LA215
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 224324
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 19 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 2640
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES R DRAPER
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 1 BOX 244
Aircraft Owner City CLAYTON
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46118
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES R. DRAPER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR 1 BOX 244
Operator City CLAYTON
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46118
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 68I
Departure City BELLEVILLE
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Descent
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 27
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --