# NTSB CHI77FET23: Piper PA-25, N7278Z, Niles, MI, July 13, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 13, 1977
- Place: Niles, MI · NILES, MI
- Location: 41.8345° N, 86.2479° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Niles, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8345&lon=-86.2479&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 146224
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FET23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FET23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2107  77/7/13    NILES,MI            PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 1595
        TIME - 0710                    N7278Z              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 900 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SODUS MI                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLEANUP SWATH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          MISC - FLT SUIT SLEEVE CAUGHT & CLOSED THROTTLE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  900                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - TOMATOES                                  TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  745                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7278Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7278Z-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 25-3217, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19770713019009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770713019009A), Jul 13, 1977: Piper PA25235, Niles, MI, Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N7278Z (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI80DEM30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80DEM30), Jun 21, 1980: Piper PA-25 (N7278Z), South Haven, MI, substantial damage

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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