# NTSB CHI73FEP47: Piper PA-28, N4451J, Independence, WI, April 6, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 6, 1973
- Place: Independence, WI · INDEPENDENCE, WI
- Location: 44.3098° N, 91.4207° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Independence, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3098&lon=-91.4207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170339
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73FEP47
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEP47

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0709   73/4/6    INDEPENDENCE,WIS    PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 300
        TIME - 1930                    N4451J              PX-  0  1  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LA CROSSE,WIS               EAU CLAIRE,WIS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT ATTEMP.TO MAINT.VFR FLT.COLLIDED WITH TREES ON 1380FT MSL RIDGE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4451J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4451J-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 28-22856 (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: Destroyed
- Airport: Eau Ccaire

## 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 19730406007959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730406007959A), Apr 6, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Independence, WI, Destroyed. Plt attemp. To maint.VFR flt. Collided with trees on 1380FT MSL ridge.

## Other investigations on N4451J (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 CHI69D0100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69D0100), Jul 5, 1968: Piper PA-28 (N4451J), Wheeling, IL, 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.

---
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.