Piper PA-28-151 accident near Lapeer, Michigan, April 23, 2026
On April 23, 2026 at about 10:24 pm local time, a 1974 Piper PA-28-151, registered N44690, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lapeer, Michigan (Dupont Lapeer Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, runway excursion, and on ground collision with an object. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s decision to continue the takeoff on a closed, unsuitable runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2026 · about 10:24 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Lapeer, Michigan · Dupont Lapeer Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151, built 1974 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N44690 · registry record · serial 28-7515006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor, seated in the right seat, and the student pilot, seated in the left seat, were conducting an instructional flight practicing soft field takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor reported that, during the takeoff roll while demonstrating a soft field takeoff on a turf runway, the airplane encountered rough terrain and was not accelerating as expected. Despite the reduced acceleration, the flight instructor continued the takeoff. Immediately after rotation, the airplane aerodynamically stalled and made abnormal contact with the turf runway. Following the abnormal runway contact, the airplane crossed an intersecting paved runway. The airplane subsequently became airborne again, aerodynamically stalled, and made abnormal contact with the turf runway a second time. The flight instructor reported that, at this point, he decided to abort the takeoff and began taking corrective actions; however, the airplane overran the runway environment, entered a parking lot, and struck an object, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The turf runway at Dupont/Lapeer Airport is Runway 09–27. According to the FAA Chart Supplement, Runway 09–27 is closed from November through April and when snow covered.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff
- Ground collision during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Wrong surface or wrong airport during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 489 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 345 as pilot in command; 139 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 2, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,323 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: H&M Air LLC
The flight
- Destination: FNT Flint MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 1,879 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from D95
Weather report (METAR): METAR KD95 232215Z AUTO 14008KT 10SM CLR 25/12 A2983 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 15, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor and Student Pilot Statements | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Airport Chart Supplement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N44690 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,838 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D 65 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Dupont/Lapeer Airport · nearest airport
- Bishop International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Michigan 2,107 since 1982 · 230 in the last ten years
- Michigan 7,226 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC26LA031.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.