Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Merom, Indiana 47861
Friday, June 28, 1985 10:09 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A VISUAL FLIGHT FROM FAIRFIELD IOWA TO INDIANAPOLIS, IN AND WAS ABOUT 55 MAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF COURSE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BROKE UP IN FLIGHT. THE MAIN WRECKAGE, EMPENNAGE, AND OUTER WING SECTIONS LANDED WITHIN ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE OF EACH OTHER IN MEROM, INDIANA. WEATHER AND RAIN SHOWERS WERE N THE AREA AT THE TIME. THE FLIGHT WAS NOT ON A FLIGHT PLAN AT THE TIME AND THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT LAST REPORTED HIS ALTITUDE AS 12,500 FEET. FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION PERSONNEL HAD BRIEFED THE PILOT ON MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS ENROUTE AND RECOMMENDED A MORE NORTHERLY COURSE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1009
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MEROM
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47861
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 6
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 Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2907
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 28 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1111
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31400
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39554
NTSB Number CHI85FA258
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32RT-300T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32RT-30
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-7887107
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 28 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 860
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAMUEL P. ROZEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 304 E. BRIGGS
Aircraft Owner City FAIRFIELD
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52556
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FFL
Departure City FAIRFIELD
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City INDIANAPOLIS
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --