# NTSB CHI72AC030: Piper PA-28, N8178W, Crystal Fall, MI, September 27, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 27, 1971
- Place: Crystal Fall, MI · CRYSTAL FALL, MI
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163438
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI72AC030
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC030

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2355  71/9/27    CRYSTAL FALL,MICH   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 275
        TIME - 1500                    N8178W              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 37 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - IRON COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CRYSTAL FALL,MICH          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 9/28/71. PLT TOOK OFF INTO KNOWN POOR WEA COND. OBTAINED WEA BRIEF ABOUT 22 HRS BFOR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8178W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8178W-1972-01-14), registration cancelled 1972-01-14, S/N 28-2302 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Iron County

## Other investigations on N8178W (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI67F0426](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67F0426), Dec 3, 1966: Piper PA-28 (N8178W), Geneva, IL, substantial damage

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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