Piper PA-22-108 accident near Oscoda, Michigan, December 11, 2013
On December 11, 2013 at about 4:05 pm local time, a 1961 Piper PA-22-108, registered N5386Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Oscoda, Michigan (Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot’s loss of control during landing in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land with gusting wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 2013 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Oscoda, Michigan · Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108, built 1961 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5386Z · registry record · serial 229154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was conducting a second supervised solo flight after his flight instructor had checked the weather and released him for the flight. The student pilot reported that, during his first approach for a solo landing, the touchdown was normal, but that, a second or two after touchdown, the right wing lifted up. The airplane then veered left, and the student pilot applied right rudder. The airplane continued to veer left and began to nose over. The student applied full right aileron, but the airplane continued to nose over and subsequently impacted the runway surface. Recorded wind exceeded 10 knots gusting to above 20 knots about the time of the accident.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 530 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSC Oscoda MI at 3:10 pm
- Destination: OSC Oscoda MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 11,800 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from OSC
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.