# NTSB CHI75AC033: Beech H18, N72FA, Iron Mtn, MI, October 17, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 17, 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: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 26, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144458
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI75AC033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75AC033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3992  74/10/17   IRON MTN,MICH       BEECH H18           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0151                    N72FA               PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      42, 12345 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        4000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANSING,MICH                IRON MTN,MICH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BELOW CLEARANCE LIMIT OF 3000FT.TERRAIN ELEV APRX 850FT.MAIL FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72FA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72FA-1975-02-10), registration cancelled 1975-02-10, S/N BA-631 (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 19741017041739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741017041739A), Oct 17, 1974: Beech H18, Iron Mtn, MI, Destroyed. Descended below clearance limit of 3000FT.terrain elev aprx 850FT.mail 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.

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