# NTSB CHI72AC057: Piper PA-28, N7039W, Salem, MI, January 9, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 9, 1972
- Place: Salem, MI · SALEM, MI
- Location: 42.4061° N, 83.5799° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salem, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4061&lon=-83.5799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 6, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164692
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI72AC057
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC057

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0036   72/1/9    SALEM,MICH          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 59, 1155
        TIME - 2145                    N7039W              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SALEM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALEM,MICH                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ENCNTRD FOG DURG NON-PUBLISHED VOR APCH,HIT TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7039W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7039W-1972-02-16), registration cancelled 1972-02-16, S/N 28-722 (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: Salem

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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