# NTSB CHI74AC062: Piper PA-32, N3998W, Chicago, IL, January 17, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 17, 1974
- Place: Chicago, IL · CHICAGO, IL
- Location: 41.8500° N, 87.6501° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chicago, IL, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8500&lon=-87.6501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 1, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186814
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74AC062
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC062

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0530  74/1/17    CHICAGO,ILL         PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 55 TOTAL
        TIME - 1150                    N3998W              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MIDLOTHIAN,ILL             UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       33
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- UN TO MAINTAIN VFR BLO LOW CLOUDS.HIT TOWNHOUSE,4 HOMES DAMAGED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3998W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3998W-1974-05-10), registration cancelled 1974-05-10, S/N 32966, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (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 19740117007349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740117007349A), Jan 17, 1974: Piper PA32260, Chicago, IL, Destroyed. Un to maintain VFR blo low clouds. Hit townhouse,4 homes damaged.

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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