# NTSB CHI80FAMS1: Piper PA-24, N8437P, Ganges, MI, October 10, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 10, 1979
- Place: Ganges, MI · GANGES, MI
- Location: 42.5770° N, 86.2103° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ganges, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5770&lon=-86.2103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 8, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133290
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FAMS1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FAMS1

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3538  79/10/10 NR.GANGES,MI          PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 39, 267
        TIME - 0720                    N8437P              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 15 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PALMYRA,WI                  DETROIT,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- RADAR CONTACT LOST OVER LAKE MICHIGAN.ACFT NOT RECOVERED,INJURY INDEX PRESUMED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8437P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8437P-1980-01-22), registration cancelled 1980-01-22, S/N 24-3680 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19791010034089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791010034089A), Oct 10, 1979: Piper PA24250, Ganges, MI, Destroyed. Departed IFR over water flight. Unable to maintain altitude due to icing. Became missing. Beleived down in lake mich.

## Other investigations on N8437P (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 MKC67D0450](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67D0450), Feb 18, 1967: Piper PA-24 (N8437P), Olathe, KS, substantial damage

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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