# NTSB CHI81FET03: Piper PA-28, N9943W, Michigan City, IN, January 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 18, 1981
- 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: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 16, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FET03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FET03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0337  81/1/18    MICHIGAN CITY,IN    PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1400                    N9943W              PX-  0  0  2  DUAL                      AGE 28, 775 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            255 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MICHIGAN CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MICHIGAN CITY,IN            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           DUAL STUDENT - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: SNOW WINDROWS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9943W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- 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 19810118000679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810118000679A), Jan 18, 1981: Piper PA28140, Michigan City, IN, Substantial damage. Instructor allowed aircraft to crash into snow off side of runway during low pass with student at controls.

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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