# NTSB CHI74AC036: Piper PA-28, N9034W, Port Austin, MI, October 12, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 12, 1973
- Place: Port Austin, MI · PORT AUSTIN, MI
- Location: 44.0426° N, 82.9951° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Port Austin, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0426&lon=-82.9951&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 14, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188032
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74AC036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3467  73/10/12 NR.PORT AUSTIN,MICH   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 344
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N9034W              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 164 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALPENA,MICH                 DETROIT,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDETERMINED                                             IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    900
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       66
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          200                                                       11
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- DEBRIS & 2 BODIES RCVRD FM SAGINAW BAY.FRONTAL WX ENRT.PLT MOD-SVR CORONARY ARTRL ATHEROSCLEROSIS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9034W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9034W-1974-04-24), registration cancelled 1974-04-24, S/N 28-10627 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (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 19731012038459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731012038459A), Oct 12, 1973: Piper PA28235, Port Austin, MI, 2 fatal. Debris & 2 bodies rcvrd fm saginaw bay. Frontal wx enrt. Plt mod-svr coronary artrl atherosclerosis.

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.