Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Newaygo, MI
On August 28, 2002, a Piper PA-28R-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Newaygo, MI. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 28, 2002
- Place
- Newaygo, MI
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.467°N, 85.750°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020906X01535
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 28, 2002, at 1849 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N4988J, operated as a rental airplane, was destroyed following an impact with power lines which crossed the Muskegon River near Newaygo, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private rated pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed from Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan, at 1800, en route to Three Rivers Municipal Dr Haines Airport, Three Rivers, Michigan. According to the Newaygo County Sheriff’s report, a witness stated, "...he was fishing just below Hardy Dam on the Croton side of the Muskegon River. He stated the plane in question came just over the Hardy Dam, swooped all the way down the Muskegon River on the Croton side and went extremely low on the river. At the first turn, he made an extreme hard bank around the curve. [The witness] advised [the officer] that the pilot was very 'dare devilish' and also not a normal pilot that would fly a plane in a normal fashion. He was flying it very erratic." A second witness stated, "...she witnessed a plane heading south/southeast very low to the water and saw it go underneath two power lines stretching across the Muskegon River. [The witness] explained that part of the plane hit the power wires and continued on with a very loud engine noise, yet it was not puttering at all, it was just a steady, loud engine noise. [The witness] explained the plane continued to head in the same directio
Probable cause
The altitude/clearance disregarded by the pilot and his ostentatious display. The wire and low altitude flight were a contributing factor.
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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.
