# NTSB CHI81FEM32: Piper PA-31, N500KH, Mt Pleasant, MI, July 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 20, 1981
- Place: Mt Pleasant, MI · MT PLEASANT, MI
- Location: 43.5967° N, 84.7760° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mount Pleasant, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5967&lon=-84.7760&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125021
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FEM32
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEM32

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1669  81/7/20    MT PLEASANT,MI      PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0717                    N500KH              PX-  0  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 53, 5048 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            1400 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANSING,MI                  MT PLEASANT,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: MISSED APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, BY PHONE,LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       25000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       64
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N500KH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Mt Pleasant

## 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 19810720047219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810720047219A), Jul 20, 1981: Piper PA31350, Mount Pleasant, MI, Substantial damage. Struck trees on missed approach. Remained airborne, landed safely. Reported radar altimeter defect. Was set too low

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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