# NTSB CHI74AC086: Piper PA-28R, N56611, Freeland, MI, May 5, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 5, 1974
- Place: Freeland, MI · FREELAND, MI
- Location: 43.5175° N, 84.1147° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Freeland, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5175&lon=-84.1147&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 11, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170201
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74AC086
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC086

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3892   74/5/5    FREELAND,MICH       PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 26, 350
        TIME - 0956                    N56611              PX-  3  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 40 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRI-CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PELLSTON,MICH               DETROIT,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       43
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          100                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- ACFT OBSVD SPINNING OUT OF OVCST CLOUD LAYER,PIECES OF WRECKAGE OBSVD DSCNDG.L WING SEPARATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56611](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56611-1975-01-15), registration cancelled 1975-01-15, S/N 28R-7435018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Tri-City

## 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 19740505039249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740505039249A), May 5, 1974: Piper PA28R200, Freeland, MI, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Acft obsvd spinning out of ovcst cloud layer,pieces of wreckage obsvd dscndg.l wing separated.

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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