# NTSB CHI78FEM17: Piper PA-28, N8550N, Kalkaska, MI, May 14, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 14, 1978
- Place: Kalkaska, MI · KALKASKA, MI
- Location: 44.7316° N, 85.1843° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kalkaska, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7316&lon=-85.1843&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141910
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FEM17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEM17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1414  78/5/14  NR.KALKASKA,MI        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 1117
        TIME - 1420                    N8550N              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 1086 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         KALKASKA,MI                  ACME,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  450
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8550N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8550N-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 28-11349, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (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 19780514012939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780514012939A), May 14, 1978: Piper PA28235, Kalkaska, 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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