# NTSB MKC73AK049: Piper PA-28, N7280J, Mitchell, SD, January 26, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 26, 1973
- Place: Mitchell, SD · MITCHELL, SD
- Location: 43.7281° N, 98.0414° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mitchell, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7281&lon=-98.0414&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 12, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170055
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC73AK049
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73AK049

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0279  73/1/26  NR.MITCHELL,S DAK     PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 77 TOTAL
        TIME - 1900                    N7280J              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WINNER,S DAK                ELDORA,IOWA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       30
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO POOR WEA AT NITE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7280J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7280J-1973-06-27), registration cancelled 1973-06-27, S/N 28-24625 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730126001229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730126001229A), Jan 26, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Mitchell, SD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into poor wea at nite.

## Other investigations on N7280J (2)

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.

- [NTSB NYC71FHJ24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC71FHJ24), Feb 28, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N7280J), Farmingdale, NY, substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC69D0213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69D0213), Sep 29, 1968: Piper PA-28 (N7280J), E Hampton, CT, substantial damage

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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