# NTSB CHI79DEC20: Piper PA-28, N8879W, Pontiac, MI, March 17, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 17, 1979
- 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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 8, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137432
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79DEC20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79DEC20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0490  79/3/17    PONTIAC,MI          PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 41, 535
        TIME - 1350                    N8879W              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 66 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OAKLAND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TROY,MI                     PONTIAC,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           COLLIDED WITH: RUNWAY OR APPROACH LIGHTS                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     200
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- WX INFO FM ATIS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8879W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8879W-1980-01-04), registration cancelled 1980-01-04, S/N 28-10437 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Oakland

## 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 19790317004839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790317004839A), Mar 17, 1979: Piper PA28235, Pontiac, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot allowed aircraft to drift to the side of the runway on landing. Hit runway light, then hit snowbank.

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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