# NTSB CHI80FET12: Piper PA-31, N746CE, Michigan City, IN, March 13, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 13, 1980
- Place: Michigan City, IN · MICHIGAN CITY, IN
- Location: 41.7088° N, 86.8669° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Michigan City, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7088&lon=-86.8669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131834
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI80FET12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FET12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0358  80/3/13    MICHIGAN CITY,IN    PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 1737
        TIME - 1840                    N746CE              PX-  0  0  1  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, 54 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MICHIGAN CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NILES,MI                    CHICAGO,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: ICE/SLUSH ON RUNWAY
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: SNOW ON RUNWAY
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOW FLUID LEVEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N746CE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N746CE-2013-09-12), registration cancelled 2013-09-12, S/N 31-195, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Michigan City

## 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 19800313005379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800313005379A), Mar 13, 1980: Piper PA31, Michigan City, IN, Substantial damage. Overvoltage electrical failure. Failed to correct. Made landing downwind on icy runway. Skidded off end of runway.

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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