Piper PA-28-235 accident near Ray, Michigan, May 20, 2023
On May 20, 2023 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA-28-235, registered N586SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Ray, Michigan (Ray Community 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 simulated engine-out procedures. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s decision to land with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2023 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ray, Michigan · Ray Community · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235, built 1966 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N586SB · registry record · serial 28-10781
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor demonstrated a simulated engine failure to his student while the airplane was on the crosswind leg in the traffic pattern. He reported that he attempted to land on the opposite runway from which they departed. He reported that while maneuvering to final approach the airplane was pushed to the left of the runway over a grassy area by a “sudden downward draft.” The flight instructor stated that he thought the airplane encountered “windshear coming down between the trees.” He landed the airplane in the wet grass between the taxiway and the runway, which resulted in a propeller strike. Post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the engine mount. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the wind at the time of the accident was 300° at 10 knots. The landing was made toward runway 10 which resulted in a 9-knot tailwind.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,812 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 1,567 as pilot in command; 896 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kareon Consulting LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KDET Detroit MI at 3:55 pm
- Destination: 57D Ray MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 010, 2,495 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from KMTC, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMTC 201556Z 30010KT 10SM BKN026 BKN035 14/07 A2998 RMK AO2A SLP157 T01370070
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor Additional Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.