# NTSB CHI75AC001: Beech H18, N73FA, Iron Mtn, MI, July 3, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 3, 1974
- Place: Iron Mtn, MI · IRON MTN, MI
- Location: 45.8269° N, 88.0594° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Iron Mountain, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8269&lon=-88.0594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130064
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI75AC001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75AC001

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2767   74/7/3    IRON MTN,MICH       BEECH H18           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0145                    N73FA               PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      AGE 32, 6070 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FORD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          IRON MTN,MICH               RETURN                       LANSING,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO INITIATE GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALTIMETER SETTING-INCORRECT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - NOT ALIGNED WITH RUNWAY/INTENDED LANDING AREA
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          GROUND FOG                                                65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- VIS DESCRIBED AS POOR DUE TO HVY FOG.PLT RPTD OVR ARPT,GOING OUT TO ATMT APCH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73FA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73FA-1974-11-07), registration cancelled 1974-11-07, S/N BA-649 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H18
- Registry model: [Beech H-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h-18) (registry code 1151012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ford

## 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 19740703031649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740703031649A), Jul 3, 1974: Beech H18, Iron Mtn, MI, Destroyed. Vis described as poor due to hvy fog. Plt rptd ovr arpt,going out to atmt apch.

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.