Accident Piper PA-22-108 N5881Z, Friday 3 August 1984

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Date:	Friday 3 August 1984
Time:	21:15 LT
Type:	Piper PA-22-108
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N5881Z
MSN:	229744
Total airframe hrs:	2869 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-235-01
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Bloomington, IL - United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
PLT DEPARTED ON LOCAL FLT SHORTLY BEFORE THE TWR CLOSED. PLT RECALLED FINAL TWR TRANSMISSION INCLUDED ALTIMETER SETTING WHICH WAS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ON HIS INSTRUMENT. ON RETURN TO THE ARPT, 35 MINS AFTER DEPARTURE, FOG AND HAZE HAD REDUCED VISIBILITY TO ABOUT 2 MILES. ON TURN TO FINAL, ACFT DESCENDED ABOUT 400 FT BELOW NORMAL APPROACH PATH. LANDING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PWR LINES AHEAD. PLT FELT THAT AN EVASIVE PULL-UP MANEUVER WOULD NOT ALLOW CLEARANCE SO POWER WAS ADDED AND ATTEMPT MADE TO FLY UNDER THE LINES WITHOUT A VISUAL GROUND REFERENCE. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A CORN FIELD.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: