# NTSB CHI81FEM43: Aeronca 65-TC, N31751, Plainwell, MI, September 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 7, 1981
- Place: Plainwell, MI · PLAINWELL, MI
- Location: 42.4473° N, 85.6413° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Plainwell, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4473&lon=-85.6413&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123645
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FEM43
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEM43

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1928   81/9/7    PLAINWELL,MI        AERONCA 65-TC       CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 702
        TIME - 1150                    N31751              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 140 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FARMER & FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LOWELL,MI                   PLAINWELL,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        REMARKS- DUE TO TREES ON N END RWY IT IS CONSIDERED A ONE WAY RWY,LND N TKOF S.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31751](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31751), registered now, S/N L6300T (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 65-TC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 65-TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-tc) (registry code 0190902) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Farmer & Field

## 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 19810907058049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810907058049A), Sep 7, 1981: Arocar AEROCAR1, Plainwell, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted downwind landing on short, sod strip. Collided with trees at end when unable to go around.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.