Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Montmorenci, Indiana 47962
Saturday, August 11, 1984 8:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE ON A X-COUNTRY PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION FLT. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE PLT TELEPHONED A RELATIVE AT THE DESTINATION, 118 MILES AWAY, & HAD BEEN INFORMED THAT THE FLT CONDITIONS (WX) AT BRAZIL WERE GOOD. THE PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING OR FILE A FLT PLAN. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED IN VFR FLT CONDITIONS & WHILE CRUISING BETWEEN '1800 & 2000 FT RAN INTO A HEAVY FOG'. AT THIS TIME HE WAS APPROX 69 MI SOUTH & REPORTED HE STARTED A LT TURN INTENDING TO RETURN TO VFR CONDITIONS. THE ACFT DESCENDED DUING THE TURN & STRUCK THE BOTTOM CABLE OF A HIGH LINE 80 FT AGL. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & THE PASSENGER KILLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/11/1984
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 850
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MONTMORENCI
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47962
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 8
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport 10
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 849 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID LAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 690
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 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) 3180
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27289
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 N5770U
NTSB Number CHI84FA342
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA28-140E
Aircraft Series Identifier PA28-140E
Aircraft Serial Number 28-26594
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Oct 12 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 4019
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name T.L. &F.M. TALMAGE
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name T. L. SMITH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1517 WINTER PARK DR.
Operator City VALPARAISO
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46383
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 3HO
Departure City HOBART
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 820
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 012
Destination City BRAZIL
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 --