# NTSB CHI81FA029: Piper PA-31T, N321SS, Waterford Twp, MI, February 19, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 19, 1981
- Place: Waterford Twp, MI · WATERFORD TWP, MI
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126845
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0443  81/2/19    WATERFORD TWP,MI    PIPER PA-31T        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 37, 1700
        TIME - 1903                    N321SS              PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 33 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OAKLAND-PONTIAC
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TULSA,OK                    WATERFORD TWP,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      110
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ILS RWY9.HIT TWO 40FT APCH LITE TWRS 2400 & 2200 FEET FRM APCH END OF RWY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N321SS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Oakland-Pontiac

## 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 19810219004459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810219004459A), Feb 19, 1981: Piper PA31T, Pontiac, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck runway approach light towers on IFR approach. Crashed and burned on airport. Ceiling & visibility zero.

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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