# NTSB CHI74DEM18: Piper PA-16, N5868H, Lake City, MI, August 31, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 31, 1973
- Place: Lake City, MI · LAKE CITY, MI
- Location: 44.3297° N, 85.2085° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake City, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3297&lon=-85.2085&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188927
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI74DEM18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74DEM18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2934  73/8/31    LAKE CITY,MICH      PIPER PA-16         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 896
        TIME - 1055                    N5868H              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 586 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BELLAIRE,MICH               LAKE CITY,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- UNDERSHOOT,STRUCK FENCE.PLT THOUGHT AMPLE FUEL AVAIL FOR FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5868H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5868H), registered now, S/N 16-487, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-16
- Registry model: [Piper PA-16](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (registry code 7101602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19730831034889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730831034889A), Aug 31, 1973: Piper PA16, Lake City, MI, Substantial damage. Undershoot,struck fence. Plt thought ample fuel avail for flt.

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.