# NTSB MKC74AK041: Piper PA-28, N6617J, Christine, ND, January 26, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 26, 1974
- Place: Christine, ND · CHRISTINE, ND
- Location: 46.5751° N, 96.8066° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Christine, ND, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5751&lon=-96.8066&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 5, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186941
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC74AK041
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74AK041

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0373  74/1/26    CHRISTINE,N DAK     PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 21, 68 TOTAL
        TIME - 1950                    N6617J              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 15 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MINOT,N DAK                 FARGO,N DAK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              6
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       19
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ATMTNG LET DOWN THRU CLOUDS NR DEST.CANCELLED VFR FLT PLAN.DARK NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6617J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6617J-1974-04-24), registration cancelled 1974-04-24, S/N 285082 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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 19740126006259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740126006259A), Jan 26, 1974: Piper PA28180, Christine, ND, Destroyed. Atmtng let down thru clouds nr dest. Cancelled VFR flt plan. Dark night.

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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