# NTSB CHI77FA056: Piper PA-23, N4338P, Freesoil, MI, July 4, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 4, 1977
- Place: Freesoil, MI · FREESOIL, MI
- Location: 44.1071° N, 86.2110° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Free Soil, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1071&lon=-86.2110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FA056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3997   77/7/4    FREESOIL, MI        PIPER PA-23         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2001                    N4338P              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  AGE 23, 1607 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            43 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRAND HAVEN, MI             ESCANABA, MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN AREAS OF SEVERE TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  4000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                           THUNDERSTORM, RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4338P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4338P-1978-11-07), registration cancelled 1978-11-07, S/N 23-1839, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (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 19770704038619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770704038619A), Jul 4, 1977: Piper PA23160, Freesoil, MI, Destroyed, 2 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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