# NTSB CHI78DEC26: Piper PA-28, N9303J, Pontiac, MI, April 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 12, 1978
- Place: Pontiac, MI · PONTIAC, MI
- Location: 42.6492° N, 83.2874° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pontiac, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6492&lon=-83.2874&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78DEC26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DEC26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0617  78/4/12    PONTIAC,MI          PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 69 TOTAL
        TIME - 1630                    N9303J              PX-  0  0  4  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 47 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OAKLAND-ORION
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EAST TAWAS,MI               PONTIAC,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           69                                                      250
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           25                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTING 35K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9303J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9303J-1985-01-22), registration cancelled 1985-01-22, S/N 28-3394 (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Oakland-Orion

## 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 19780412008049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780412008049A), Apr 12, 1978: Piper PA28180, Pontiac, MI, Substantial damage. Wind gusting 35K.

## Other investigations on N9303J (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 CHI82FEE01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FEE01), Oct 4, 1981: Piper PA-28 (N9303J), Wheeling, IL, destroyed

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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