# NTSB CHI79FA037: Piper PA-30, N77334, Ludington, MI, March 28, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 28, 1979
- Place: Ludington, MI · LUDINGTON, MI
- Location: 43.9572° N, 86.4429° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ludington, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9572&lon=-86.4429&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137507
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA037
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA037

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0564  79/3/28  NR.LUDINGTON,MI       PIPER PA-30         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, UNK/NR
        TIME - 2242                    N77334              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MASON COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MUSKEGON,MI                LUDINGTON,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               40
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- POLE AND BARN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N77334 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Mason County

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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