Piper PA-28-181 accident near Flint Township, Michigan, April 20, 2023
On April 20, 2023 at about 2:05 pm local time, a 1995 Piper PA-28-181, registered N419W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Flint Township, Michigan (Bishop Intl 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power from carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2023 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Flint Township, Michigan · Bishop Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 1995 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N419W · registry record · serial 2843001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot planned a short cross-country flight to two different airports with a return to his original airport. Due to concerns with weather conditions in the area, the pilot requested to air traffic control to execute the option and then return to his original departure airport. While on a 1-mile final approach, about 500 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. An attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful. Unable to make the runway, the pilot executed a forced landing on a railroad track. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and engine mount. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An undetermined amount of fuel remained in the fuel tanks at the accident site. Weather conditions reported at the time of the accident were conducive for serious icing at any power setting. The pilot stated that he did not apply carburetor heat during the approach. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the approach and descent, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fuel related during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 653 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 561 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 20, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,635.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 690 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARB Ann Arbor MI at 1:45 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KFNT, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFNT 201353Z 12012KT 10SM BKN110 09/03 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP184 T00940033
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA161.