Piper PA-28-236 N8117Z
13 January 1994 · Highland, Indiana, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 13 January 1994 at about 21:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-236 registered N8117Z was involved in an accident near Highland, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Highland, Indiana, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.5194, -87.4209
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236
- Registration
- N8117Z
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Harrisburg → Frankfort
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- CHI94LA062
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
An electrical system failure due to a fractured alternator mounting lug. Factors related to the accident were the rough terrain, and decreasing visibility due to snow and darkness.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE FLYING IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS THE AIRPLANE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CEASED OPERATING. ESTIMATING ONE HOUR OF FUEL REMAINING, THE PILOT DESCENDED THROUGH THE CLOUDS IN SEARCH OF AN AIRPORT. ONCE BELOW THE CLOUDS, THE PILOT STATED, HE ENCOUNTERED RAPIDLY DECREASING VISIBILITY DUE TO SNOW AND DARKENING SKY. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES OF FLYING, THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A FARM FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND NOSE GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED A DISCONNECTED ALTERNATOR BELT. THE ALTERNATOR'S MOUNTING LUG HAD SEPARATED FROM THE UNIT ALLOWING THE ALTERNATOR TO MOVE AWAY FROM ITS ENGINE MOUNTING. THE TYPE OF FRACTURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO SURFACE POLISHING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-28-140 | Augusta, Maine, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Oct 1994 | Piper PA-28-180C | Nunda, New York, United States | Raymond J. Marshall | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1994 | Piper PA-28-180 | St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States | JB Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-28-181 | Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28 | Woodland, California, United States | William R. LEE | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-28-180 | Boynton Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul 1994 | Grumman FM-2 | Woodburn, Indiana, United States | Kalamazoo Aviation History | No injuries | - |
| 26 Sep 1994 | Simcox SPORT TRAINER | Laporte, Indiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-28-200 | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | Robert C. Randol | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1994 | Lattimore-Dwyer BREEZY | Goshen, Indiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Feb 1994 | Cessna 320F | Goshen, Indiana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Jul 1994 | Miller KITFOX | Spencer, Indiana, United States | Miller, Richard B. | No injuries | - |