# NTSB CHI84FA073: Piper PA-28R-180, N3776T, Traverse City, MI, January 1, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 1, 1984, 15:53 local (20:53 UTC)
- Place: Traverse City, MI
- Location: 44.7314° N, 85.7442° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from CHERRY CAPITAL (TVC), within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7314&lon=-85.7442&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12383
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12383/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA073

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - buzzing - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command

## Analysis

PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE PLT MADE A PHONE CALL TO A RELATIVE WHO LIVED NEAR THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF LONG LAKE & SAID HE WOULD 'PASS OVER IN ABOUT 10 MIN.' AFTER HE TOOK OFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN A LOW PASS OVER THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE LAKE. THE ACFT THEN CIRCLED & BEGAN A 2ND LOW PASS. ON THE 2ND PASS, IT DESCENDED LOWER, HIT THE SNOW COVERED, FROZEN LAKE, BOUNCED & CRASHED. WITNESSES SAID LIGHT SNOW WAS FALLING, BUT THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3776T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3776T-1984-02-28), registration cancelled 1984-02-28, S/N 28R-30088 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-30088
- Airframe hours: 1258
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ward E. Seeley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 1983, 79 hours before
- Departed: TVC, TRAVERSE CITY, MI
- Destination: MBS, SAGINAW, MI
- Airport: TVC, Traverse City

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 260 total, 38 in this make and model, 2,102 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVC, 8 nm away

## 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 19840101000089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840101000089A), Jan 1, 1984: Piper PA28180, Traverse City, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Buzzed frozen lake. Misjudjed altitude due to snow cover and poor visibility. Impacted frozen lake, cartwheeled.

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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