# NTSB CHI74AC013: Piper PA-28, N4737L, St.Ignace, MI, August 7, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 7, 1973
- Place: St.Ignace, MI · ST.IGNACE, MI
- Location: 45.8872° N, 84.7317° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Ignace, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8872&lon=-84.7317&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 1, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188799
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74AC013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC013

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3634   73/8/7  NR.ST.IGNACE,MICH     PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 52, 175
        TIME - 1930                    N4737L              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 80 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAFAYETTE,IND               DRUMMOND ISLAND,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDETERMINED                                             UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: ATTITUDE GYRO
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       76
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          150                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- KINCHELOE AFB WX.PARTS OF ACFT,BODIES RCVRD FRM WATER.PLT HAD PRIOR DISCUSSION ABT GYRO HORIZON.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4737L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4737L-1974-08-16), registration cancelled 1974-08-16, S/N 284063 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730807040589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730807040589A), Aug 7, 1973: Piper PA28180, St.Ignace, MI, 3 fatal. Kincheloe afb wx. Parts of acft,bodies rcvrd frm water. Plt had prior discussion abt gyro horizon.

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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