# NTSB CHI72AC056: Piper PA-24, N5518P, Rockford, IL, December 30, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 30, 1971
- Place: Rockford, IL · ROCKFORD, IL
- Location: 42.2711° N, 89.0940° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rockford, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2711&lon=-89.0940&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164919
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI72AC056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4215  71/12/30   ROCKFORD,ILL        PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 62, 2712
        TIME - 0331                    N5518P              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GREATER ROCKFORD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRAND RAPIDS,MICH           CRYSTAL LAKE,ILL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          FREEZING RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       32
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       13
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PLT WX BRIEF INCLDD ICGIP.DSCNDD BLO MDA HIT TREES.PLT HAD FLWN 12HRS DRG LAST 15HR PERIOD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5518P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5518P-1972-02-16), registration cancelled 1972-02-16, S/N 24-581 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Greater Rockford

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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