Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain crash, Apr 23, 1978 (9 killed)
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident on April 23, 1978 near Arlington Indiana, United States with 9 fatalities. Cause: Uncontrolled descent and...
- Date: April 23, 1978
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
- Location: Arlington Indiana, United States
- Fatalities: 9
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Uncontrolled descent and collision with the ground after the pilot continued flight into known areas of severe turbulence. Thunderstorm-associated turbulence was a contributing factor.
Piper Navajo Chieftain N49MC, operated by Franklin Flying Field, crashed near Arlington, Indiana, on 23 April 1978 while on a charter from Trenton to Indianapolis. All nine aboard were killed, including seven United States Auto Club officials. The pilot reported severe turbulence to ATC before the aircraft went out of control and crashed.