Piper PA-32-301T accident near Lansing, Michigan, June 19, 2013
On June 19, 2013 at about 7:18 pm local time, a 1983 Piper PA-32-301T, registered N4296T, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Lansing, Michigan (Capital Region International A airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to follow the airplane checklist, which resulted in the parking brake not being released before taxi and a subsequent brake fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2013 · about 7:18 pm local time
- Place
- Lansing, Michigan · Capital Region International A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301T, built 1983 · all PA-32-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4296T · registry record · serial 32-8324009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taxiing the airplane and thought that it needed more power to taxi, so he stopped and shut down the airplane. The pilot exited and saw black smoke from both main landing gear fairings as a result of a brake fire. He attempted to extinguish the fire using a handheld fire extinguisher. The fire continued, and the pilot later called airport rescue firefighting to successfully extinguish the fire. The pilot did not disengage the parking braking before taxiing; he stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had followed the airplane checklist to check the parking brake setting.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 353 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 279 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 14, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,362 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 2,362 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LAN Lansing MI at 7:18 pm
- Destination: IRS Sturgis MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from LAN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.