# NTSB CHI79FEC14: Piper PA-32, N9709C, Sylvan Lake, MI, February 3, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 3, 1979
- Place: Sylvan Lake, MI · SYLVAN LAKE, MI
- Location: 42.6168° N, 83.3335° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sylvan Lake, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6168&lon=-83.3335&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 22, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137732
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79FEC14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEC14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0077   79/2/3    SYLVAN LAKE,MI      PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 39, 840
        TIME - 1600                    N9709C              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 80 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TROY,MI                     SYLVAN LAKE,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        REMARKS- RWY-PLOWED SNW AND ICE ON FRZN LAKE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9709C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9709C-1990-04-18), registration cancelled 1990-04-18, S/N 327840113 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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 19790203002219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790203002219A), Feb 3, 1979: Piper PA32300, Sylvan Lake, MI, Substantial damage. Hit a snow bank while landing on a strip that had been cleared on a frozen lake.

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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