# NTSB CHI78FET35: Piper PA-18, N82328, Benton Harbor, MI, September 18, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 18, 1977
- Place: Benton Harbor, MI · BENTON HARBOR, MI
- Location: 42.1135° N, 86.4472° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Benton Harbor, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1135&lon=-86.4472&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201247
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FET35
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FET35-201247

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4005  77/9/18    BENTON HARBOR,MI    PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 649
        TIME - 1652                    N82328              PX-  1  0  0  DEMONSTRATION             TOTAL HOURS, 15 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROSS FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BENTON HARBOR,MI            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
        REMARKS- ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING WING OVER TURN TO FINAL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82328](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82328-1982-04-16), registration cancelled 1982-04-16, S/N 18-7709161 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ross Field

## 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 19770918039179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770918039179A), Sep 18, 1977: Piper PA18S125, Benton Harbor, IN, Substantial damage. Accident occurred during wing over turn to final.

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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