Piper PA-28-181 accident near Pellston, Michigan, June 1, 2023
On June 1, 2023 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1984 Piper PA-28-181, registered N4376H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Pellston, Michigan (Pellston Rgnl/Emmet County 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 failure of the left main landing gear strut and clevises due to fatigue cracks that initiated at multiple casting solidification voids.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2023 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pellston, Michigan · Pellston Rgnl/Emmet County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 1984 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4376H · registry record · serial 28-8490110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot had completed two touch and go landings. On takeoff after the second landing, they heard an unusual thumping sound or a bang. Due to the unusual noise, the flight instructor elected to perform a precautionary landing. During the approach for a precautionary landing, the airport manager observed that the left main landing gear wheel assembly was hanging from the landing gear strut by the brake line and advised the flight instructor via radio not to land. The flight instructor then diverted to another airport due to the availability of increased airport fire and rescue services. The airplane landed on the runway centerline with the partially separated left main landing gear assembly and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed the landing gear strut housing and clevises were fractured at the upper torque link connection. Metallurgical examination revealed the strut and clevises fractured from fatigue cracks that had initiated along the radius of the clevis arms within the inner machined surface. These cracks initiated at multiple casting solidification voids and silicon-rich phases. The cracks propagated through the clevis cross-sections until the remaining cross-sections fractured from overstress.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,545 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 4,597 as pilot in command; 1,043 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 19, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,452 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGN Harbor Springs MI at 3:23 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 6,513 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KPLN
Weather report (METAR): KPLN 011554Z AUTO 13005KT 10SM CLR 29/16 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP203 T02890156
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 18, 2024. 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 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpt of Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpt of Airplane Parts Catalog | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 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.