# NTSB CHI73DET18: Beech A23, N3533R, Griffith, IN, March 18, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 18, 1973
- Place: Griffith, IN · GRIFFITH, IN
- Location: 41.5276° N, 87.4239° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Griffith, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5276&lon=-87.4239&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73DET18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73DET18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0977  73/3/18    GRIFFITH,IND        BEECH A23           CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 250
        TIME - 1300                    N3533R              PX-  0  0  2  DEMONSTRATION             TOTAL HOURS, 100 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRIFFITH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRIFFITH,IND                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: SNOW WINDROWS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    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                                                     RIGHT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 023-067 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTING 20K.INITIATD GOARND,PLT NOT AWARE OF DMGD L GR.LNDD UN MAINTAIN DIR CTL HIT SNOWBANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3533R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3533R-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N M-703, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A23
- Registry model: [Beech A23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23) (registry code 1151204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-346 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-346-series) (registry code 17033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Griffith

## 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 19730318010569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730318010569A), Mar 18, 1973: Beech A23, Griffith, IN, Substantial damage. Wind gusting 20K.initiatd goarnd,plt not aware of dmgd l gr. Lndd un maintain dir ctl hit snowbank.

## Other investigations on N3533R (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC66D0505](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66D0505), Feb 11, 1966: Beech A-23 (N3533R), Oswego, NY, substantial damage

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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