ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 36388
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| Date: | Tuesday 30 December 1986 |
| Time: | 02:54 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II |
| Owner/operator: | Wright International Express |
| Registration: | N74NL |
| MSN: | 31T-7720010 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6888 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W PT-6A-28 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Merrillville, Indiana -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Louisville International Airport, Louisville, Kentucky (SDF/KSDF) |
| Chicago Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois (MDW/KMDW) | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
THE AIRCRAFT WAS EN-ROUTE TO THE CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT. WHILE LETTING DOWN TO 16,000 FEET, THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS SHUTTING DOWN THE RIGHT ENGINE . AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT TO 5,000 FEET. TEN MINUTES LATER, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER LOST RADIO TRANSPONDER AND MODE C CONTACT.
15 MINUTES LATER THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED OUT OF THE 1,800 FEET OVERCAST AND STRUCK A 170 FOOT UTILITY TOWER AT THE 150 FOOT LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT THEN GROUND IMPACTED AND BURNED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE HAD A BEARING FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
PROPER ALTITUDE..NOT MAINTAINED..PILOT IN COMMAND
DESCENT..MISJUDGED..PILOT IN COMMAND
Contributing Factors:
ENGINE ASSEMBLY,BEARING..DISTORTED
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM..FAILURE,TOTAL
LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT..PILOT IN COMMAND
ENGINE ASSEMBLY,BEARING..BINDING(MECHANICAL)
FLIGHT/NAV INSTRUMENTS..FAILURE,PARTIAL
MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE..NOT MAINTAINED..PILOT IN COMMAND
LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT
Sources:
1. NTSB Identification: CHI87FA058 at https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001213X35321
2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=74NL
3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.baaa-acro.com/1986/archives/crash-of-a-piper-pa-31-cheyenne-in-merrillville-1-killed/]
4. http://planecrashmap.com/plane/in/N74NL/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 06-Aug-2017 19:29 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Source] |
| 18-Sep-2017 19:00 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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