# NTSB CHI80FA065: Piper PA-23, N44EM, East Tawas, MI, August 27, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 27, 1980
- Place: East Tawas, MI · EAST TAWAS, MI
- Location: 44.2908° N, 83.4838° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of East Tawas, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2908&lon=-83.4838&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FA065
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA065

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2676  80/8/27    EAST TAWAS,MI       PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 22, 1324
        TIME - 0437                    N44EM               PX-  3  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 175 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - IOSCO COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          UTICA,MI                    EAST TAWAS,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    4000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       68
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BELOW MDA,STRUCK TREE 56FT AGL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44EM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44EM-2012-11-29), registration cancelled 2012-11-29, S/N 27-7405244, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Iosco County

## 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 19800827038629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800827038629A), Aug 27, 1980: Piper PA23250, East Tawas, MI, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Descended below minimum descent altitude. Struck trees one and a half miles from runway. Weather below minima.

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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