# NTSB CHI77FA006: Piper PA-31, N74941, Spring Lake, MI, November 11, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 11, 1976
- Place: Spring Lake, MI · SPRING LAKE, MI
- Location: 43.0735° N, 86.1941° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spring Lake, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0735&lon=-86.1941&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 5 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157076
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FA006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA006

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4147  76/11/11   SPRING LAKE,MI      PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 1798
        TIME - 1636                    N74941              PX-  1  5  2  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 221 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MUSKEGON COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TRAVERSE CITY,MI            GRAND HAVEN,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           STALL                                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: PUMPS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- R BOOST PUMP INOP,X-FEED USED TO START R ENG.X-FEED FOUND ON,L INBOARD TANK DRY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74941](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74941-1977-02-06), registration cancelled 1977-02-06, S/N 31-7305086 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Muskegon County

## 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 19761111038459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761111038459A), Nov 11, 1976: Piper PA31350, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal

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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