# NTSB CHI80DA008: Piper PA-28, N4437J, Plainwell, MI, October 29, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 29, 1979
- Place: Plainwell, MI · PLAINWELL, MI
- Location: 42.4473° N, 85.6413° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Plainwell, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4473&lon=-85.6413&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 December 10, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133020
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80DA008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80DA008

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3145  79/10/29   PLAINWELL,MI        PIPER PA-22         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 16, 24 TOTAL
        TIME - 1625                    N5345Z              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  HOURS, 19 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  1  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OTSEGO-PLAINWELL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          PLAINWELL,MI                RETURN                       KALAMAZOO,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - UNICOM                              RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  0
        REMARKS- HI WING ACFT.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3145  79/10/29   PLAINWELL,MI        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 43, 27 TOTAL
        TIME - 1625                    N4437J              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 3 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  1  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OTSEGO-PLAINWELL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PLAINWELL,MI                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - UNICOM                              RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  0
        REMARKS- LOW WING ACFT.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N4437J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4437J-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N 28-22841, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Otsego-Plainwell

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N5345Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5345Z-2012-12-18), registration cancelled 2012-12-18, S/N 22-9061, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Otsego-Plainwell

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19791029041311A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791029041311A), Oct 29, 1979: Piper PA28140, Plainwell, MI, Destroyed. Overtook another airplane on final. Overtaken lower airplane began pull up prop severed tail of higher plane,N5345Z
- [Accident 19791029041312A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791029041312A), Oct 29, 1979: Piper PA22108, Plainwell, MI, Substantial damage. Overtaken by unseen other higher airplane, both on final. Began go around,prop severed tail of higher aircraft.

## Other investigations on N4437J (1)

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.

- [NTSB DIA68D0004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA68D0004), May 29, 1967: Piper PA-28 (N4437J), Conway, NC, destroyed

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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