Piper PA-28-161 accident near Valparaiso, IN
On June 3, 1995, a Piper PA-28-161 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, IN. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 3, 1995
- Place
- Valparaiso, IN
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.469°N, 87.049°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X03652
NTSB summary
On June 2, 1995, at 2300 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28- 161, N8447T, registered to Thunderbird Aircraft Company and flown by a private instrument rated pilot collided with the terrain during an ILS approach at the Porter County Airport, Valparaiso, Indiana, while on a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. The flight originated from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, at 1839 cdt. The pilot stated he received a weather briefing prior to takeoff. He stated he was told there was a chance of light showers in lower Wisconsin and upper Illinois but that his destination of Valparaiso was forecast to be VFR. The pilot stated that in the vicinity of Valparaiso, at an altitude of 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl) the weather was good, but he could not see the ground. He stated that he encountered thick fog while on the ILS 27 approach so he made the missed approach. He stated that during the second approach he saw the "lights" at the same time he reached the outer marker. He stated he does not remember what happened after that point. The right front seat passenger stated they could not see any lights during the first approach. While turning for the second approach, they started seeing lights, then the accident occurred. According to the Porter County Sheriff's Report, the airplane was flying to the east and traveled over a "well lighted NIPSCO power plant" prior to reaching the field in which it crashed. It is unknown if the lights the pilot and passe
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EXECUTION OF THE ILS APPROACH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FOG AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME IN ACTUAL INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS.
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Browse: Indiana · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
