Piper PA-28-235 accident near St. Ignaces, MI
On September 14, 1997, a Piper PA-28-235 (airplane) was involved in an accident near St. Ignaces, MI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 14, 1997
- Place
- St. Ignaces, MI
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.928°N, 84.826°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08803
Official records · CHI97FA308
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 14, 1997, a Piper PA-28-235 airplane, N9399W, impacted terrain near St. Ignace, Michigan. The noninstrument-rated pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was owned by the pilot who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure airport and along the flight route, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight, which originated from Drummond Island Airport (KY66), Drummond Island, Michigan, about 1553 destined for Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport (OZW), Howell, Michigan. According to a friend of the pilot, the pilot was scheduled to return to OZW on the afternoon of September 14. The next day, the pilot's employer contacted the friend and notified him that the pilot had not shown up for work. The friend, who was also a pilot, reported the airplane missing and assisted in the subsequent search. He stated that an instrument-rated pilot had departed from, but then returned to, KY66 before the accident flight due to the weather conditions and that accident pilot knew of the returned flight before departing KY66. The U.S. Coast Guard initiated a search for the missing airplane in September 1997, and its search plan stated that Toronto Air Route Traffic Control Center National Track Analysis Program (NTAP) data showed that the airplane departed KY66 at 1553, flew 20 to 25 miles south over Lake Huron, and then turned 180° north before disappearing from radar. The search plan also stated
Probable cause
The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper decision to depart in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in impact with terrain.
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Browse: Michigan · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
