Piper PA22 accident near Baraga, Michigan, March 2, 2013
On March 2, 2013 at about 5:09 pm local time, a Piper PA22, registered N2238A, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Baraga, Michigan (Temporary Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during taxi.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2013 · about 5:09 pm local time
- Place
- Baraga, Michigan · Temporary Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22 135 · all PA22s on the register
- Registration
- N2238A · no longer on the register · serial 22-637
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had landed his airplane on the plowed surface of an icy runway and was taxiing when he lost directional control. The airplane impacted a snow bank on the edge of the runway. The airplane’s nose gear collapsed, and the engine mount and forward fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 741 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 694 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 28, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 5 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,571 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O290 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Blue Harbor Energy LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CMX Hancock MI at 4:20 pm
- Destination: NONE Baraga MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KCMX, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.