Piper PA28-140E accident near Montmorenci, Indiana, August 11, 1984
On August 11, 1984 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140E, registered N5770U, was destroyed in an accident near Montmorenci, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1984 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Montmorenci, Indiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140E · all PA28-140Es on the register
- Registration
- N5770U · no longer on the register · serial 28-26594
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED WHILE ON A X-COUNTRY PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION FLT. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE PLT TELEPHONED A RELATIVE AT THE DESTINATION, 118 MILES AWAY, & HAD BEEN INFORMED THAT THE FLT CONDITIONS (WX) AT BRAZIL WERE GOOD. THE PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING OR FILE A FLT PLAN. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED IN VFR FLT CONDITIONS & WHILE CRUISING BETWEEN '1800 & 2000 FT RAN INTO A HEAVY FOG'. AT THIS TIME HE WAS APPROX 69 MI SOUTH & REPORTED HE STARTED A LT TURN INTENDING TO RETURN TO VFR CONDITIONS. THE ACFT DESCENDED DUING THE TURN & STRUCK THE BOTTOM CABLE OF A HIGH LINE 80 FT AGL. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & THE PASSENGER KILLED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 173 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 94 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,019 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 12, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3HO Hobart IN at 1:20 pm
- Destination: 012 Brazil IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:49 pm from LAF, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.