Michigan City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Michigan City, Indiana 46360
Wednesday, December 28, 1983 7:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT RAN OFF THE SNOW COVERED RWY INTO SOFT GROUND AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. THE PLT SAID THAT DURING ACCELERATION FOR TAKEOFF HE FELT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR GO OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. HE REDUCED POWER BUT BY THIS TIME THE GEAR WAS IN SOFT GROUND AND THIS PULLED THE ACFT FURTHER OFF THE RWY. THE NOSE GEAR HIT A FURROW IN A CORNFIELD AND COLLAPSED. THE PLT SAID 2 OR 3 INCHES OF NEW SNOW HAD FALLEN DURING THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AND THE RWY WAS NOT PLOWED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE POSITION OF THE CENTERLINE. THE RWY LIGHTS ARE DISPLACED ABOUT 15 FT FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE RWY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/28/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 710
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MICHIGAN CITY
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46360
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MICHIGAN CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MGC
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 650
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
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) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2245
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22586
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54828
NTSB Number CHI84LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 27-7554125
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 88
Airframe Hours 4947
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHILLIPS MICHIGAN CITY FLYING
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5814 E. MICHIGAN BLVD
Aircraft Owner City MICHIGAN CITY
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46360
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 Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 710
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORD
Destination City CHICAGO
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 2
Runway Length 4300
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --