Piper PA28-140 accident near Sparta, MI
On October 25, 2000, a Piper PA28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sparta, MI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 25, 2000
- Place
- Sparta, MI
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.150°N, 85.701°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X22113
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 25, 2000, at about 0717 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, N98094, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it struck trees and terrain during initial climb from runway 24 (3,200 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) at the Sparta Airport, Sparta, Michigan. A fire consumed portions of the aircraft subsequent to the impact. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions and had filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured and the passenger received serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to the Manassas Regional/Harry P. Davis Field Airport, Manassas, Virginia. The aircraft struck trees and terrain about 300 feet left of the extended runway centerline and about 1,000 feet from the departure end of the runway. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for single engine land airplanes and instrument airplane. He held a third class medical certificate with no limitations issued on September 15, 1999. According to the pilot logbook found at the accident site, the pilot had accumulated 710 hours of flight time with 430 hours in the same type aircraft as the accident aircraft. The most recent logbook entry was dated April 18, 1999. The logbook indicated that the pilot had 44 hours of simulated instrument and 9 hours actual instrument experience. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was a 1969 Piper PA-28-140, N98094, serial number 28-26040. A Lycoming O-320-E2A engine that produced 1
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment on departure and his failure to maintain clearance from the trees. The pilot's attempted flight into known adverse weather, his lack of instrument experience, the fog, and the trees were contributing factors.
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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.
