# NTSB CHI73AC043: Aero Comdr 500-A, N78376, Pekin, IL, October 23, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 23, 1972
- Place: Pekin, IL · PEKIN, IL
- Location: 40.5688° N, 89.6251° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pekin, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5688&lon=-89.6251&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 168925
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73AC043
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73AC043

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3407  72/10/23 NR.PEKIN,ILL          AERO COMDR 500-A    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 47, 758
        TIME - 1740                    N78376              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 465 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARTINSBURG,PA              PEORIA,ILL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       41
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          310                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PLT CLRD FOR ILS APCH TO REPT OUTER MARKER. REPT NOT RECD BY APCH CTL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78376](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78376-1973-05-07), registration cancelled 1973-05-07, S/N 500A-1275-98 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 500-A
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-a) (registry code 0141104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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