# NTSB CHI67A0050: Piper PA-32, N3279W, Dowagiac, MI, October 9, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 9, 1966
- Place: Dowagiac, MI · DOWAGIAC, MI
- Location: 41.9834° N, 86.1128° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dowagiac, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9834&lon=-86.1128&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1967
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 121016
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI67A0050
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67A0050

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-1166   66/10/9   DOWAGIAC,MICH       PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                PRIVATE, AGE 59, 291
        TIME - 2020                    N3279W              PX-  5  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 4 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CASS COUNTY MEM
        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
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: OTHER
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 10/15/66.PLT-NO NITE OR INSTRUMENT FLITE EXPERIENCE.OPER.PROVIDED UNQUALIFIED PLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3279W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3279W-1970-06-04), registration cancelled 1970-06-04, S/N 32-110 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Cass County Mem

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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