# NTSB CHI73DEM62: Piper PA-28, N531FL, Battle Creek, MI, May 27, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 27, 1973
- Place: Battle Creek, MI · BATTLE CREEK, MI
- Location: 42.3212° N, 85.1797° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Battle Creek, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3212&lon=-85.1797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73DEM62
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73DEM62

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1737  73/5/27    BATTLE CREEK,MICH   PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 45, 55 TOTAL
        TIME - 0804                    N531FL              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WK KELLOGG
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BATTLE CREEK,MICH           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF BRAKES AND/OR FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          HAZE                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 023-067 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           64                                                       10
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           15                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- TAIL RAISED,PROP STRUCK GROUND BENT BOTH BLADES,NOSE GR FORK WRINKLED R WING.APPLIED WRONG RUD CTL
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N531FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N531FL-1977-03-14), registration cancelled 1977-03-14, S/N 287125360 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Wk Kellogg

## 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 19730527016859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730527016859A), May 27, 1973: Piper PA28140, Battle Creek, MI, Substantial damage. Tail raised,prop struck ground bent both blades,nose gr fork wrinkled r wing. Applied wrong rud ctl

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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