# NTSB CHI65A0073: Piper PA-22, N3509Z, Pontiac, MI, February 12, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 12, 1965
- Place: Pontiac, MI · PONTIAC, MI
- Location: 42.6492° N, 83.2874° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pontiac, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6492&lon=-83.2874&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 1965
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 180504
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI65A0073
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI65A0073

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0057  65/2/12    PONTIAC MICH        PIPER PA-22         CR-  2  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 23, 2
        TIME - 0440                    N3509Z              PX-  0  0  0  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PONTIAC MUN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     FOG
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           35                                                      140
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           7                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- INSTR.SAID PILOTS PROFICIENCY INADEQUATE FOR SOLO.ALCOHOL LEVEL-L.SEAT PILOT-120MG%.R.SEAT-127MG%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3509Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3509Z-1965-03-31), registration cancelled 1965-03-31, S/N 22-7404 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Pontiac Mun

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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