# NTSB CHI73AEM72: Piper PA-32, N4394T, Charlotte, MI, February 20, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 20, 1973
- Place: Charlotte, MI · CHARLOTTE, MI
- Location: 42.5662° N, 84.8318° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Charlotte, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5662&lon=-84.8318&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 173554
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73AEM72
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73AEM72

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1739  73/2/20    CHARLOTTE,MICH      PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 54, 625
        TIME - 1600                    N4394T              PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHARLOTTE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAULT ST MARIE,MICH         CHARLOTTE,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAXI: FROM LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: SNOW ON RUNWAY
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT CROSS WIND 248-292 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          300                                                       18
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- DRG LDG ACFT DRIFTED TO R SIDE OF RWY,T/D MADE IN SNOW 3-4IN DEEP.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4394T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4394T), registered now, S/N 32-7200020, built 1972 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Charlotte

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730220021429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730220021429A), Feb 20, 1973: Piper PA32260, Charlotte, MI, Substantial damage. Drg ldg acft drifted to r side of rwy,t/d made in snow 3-4IN deep.

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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