# NTSB CHI79FA071: Piper PA-28R, N4392T, Grayling, MI, September 2, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 2, 1979
- Place: Grayling, MI · GRAYLING, MI
- Location: 44.6580° N, 84.7111° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grayling, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6580&lon=-84.7111&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 22, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134130
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FA071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA071

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2509   79/9/2    GRAYLING,MI         PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 256
        TIME - 1915                    N4392T              PX-  2  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 51 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - KELLEY'S
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRAYLING,MI                 PONTIAC,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUSED OR FAILED TO USE FLAPS
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: HIGH VEGETATION
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- HIT TREES 175FT BEYOND END OF 2100FT RWY.HI GRASS FIRST 400FT.LONGER RWY AVIALABLE.DENS ALT 2300FT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4392T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4392T-2012-06-27), registration cancelled 2012-06-27, S/N 28R-7235029, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Kelley'S

## 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 19790902029599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790902029599A), Sep 2, 1979: Piper PA28R200, Grayling, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Tried takeoff from short rough rwy. Hit tall trees off end rwy on climbout. Fact; tall grass, no flaps, rwy length.

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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