# NTSB MKC73AK045: Piper PA-28R, N7571J, St.Charles, MO, December 22, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 22, 1972
- Place: St.Charles, MO · ST.CHARLES, MO
- Location: 38.7957° N, 90.5154° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Charles, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7957&lon=-90.5154&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 9, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169271
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC73AK045
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73AK045

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4001  72/12/22 NR.ST.CHARLES,MO      PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1955                    N7571J              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 26, 1090 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            31 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ARROWHEAD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST.LOUIS,MO                 KEOKUK,IOWA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       30
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          140                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- RADAR TARGET LOST ABT 2MIN AFTR TKOF.BEING RADAR VECTORED,ADZD TINOP.RCVRD 12/23/72.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7571J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7571J-1973-06-05), registration cancelled 1973-06-05, S/N 28R-30951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Arrowhead

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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