# NTSB CHI73FEM53: Piper PA-31, N6491L, Pellston, MI, April 24, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 24, 1973
- Place: Pellston, MI · PELLSTON, MI
- Location: 45.5516° N, 84.7834° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pellston, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5516&lon=-84.7834&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 24, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190178
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73FEM53
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEM53

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1763  73/4/24    PELLSTON,MICH       PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 55,
        TIME - 1421                    N6491L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PELLSTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHEBOYGAN,MICH              PELLSTON,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO EXTEND LANDING GEAR
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNQUALIFIED PERSON OPERATED AIRCRAFT
        REMARKS- 4MI FINAL PLT DIVERTED ATTN TO OTR ACFT TO R.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6491L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6491L-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 31-455, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-300) (registry code 7103104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Pellston

## 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 19730424021329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730424021329A), Apr 24, 1973: Piper PA31T1, Pellston, MI, Substantial damage. 4MI final plt diverted attn to otr acft to r.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.