# NTSB CHI71AC064: Piper PA-32, N3955W, Geneva, IL, March 13, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 13, 1971
- Place: Geneva, IL · GENEVA, IL
- Location: 41.8821° N, 88.3300° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Geneva, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8821&lon=-88.3300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 29, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 160758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI71AC064
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71AC064

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2426  71/3/13    GENEVA,ILL          PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 102
        TIME - 1835                    N3955W              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 50 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DUPAGE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST.CHARLES,ILL              PRINCETON,WIS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          SPECIAL VFR
        REMARKS- PLT WAS UN TO LND AT DEST,RET TO DUPAGE.WEA RCVD BY ATIS ONLY.LOST CTL WHILE ON SPL VFR CLNC.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3955W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3955W-1971-04-30), registration cancelled 1971-04-30, S/N 32-904 (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: Dupage

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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