# NTSB CHI75AC050: Piper PA-28, N9762J, Watervliet, MI, January 8, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 8, 1975
- Place: Watervliet, MI · WATERVLIET, MI
- Location: 42.1876° N, 86.2586° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Watervliet, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1876&lon=-86.2586&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 147925
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI75AC050
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75AC050

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0334   75/1/8  NR.WATERVLIET,MI      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 26, 100
        TIME - 0426                    N9762J              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BERRIEN SPRINGS,MI          LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STOLEN OR UNAUTH=
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT TRANS OUT OF CTL.WX IN ACDT AREA DESCRIBED AS NEAR ZERO-ZERO COND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9762J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9762J-1975-05-09), registration cancelled 1975-05-09, S/N 28-3955, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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 19750108005309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750108005309A), Jan 8, 1975: Piper PA28180, Watervliet, MI, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Plt trans out of ctl. Wx in acdt area described as near zero-zero cond.

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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