Piper PA-28-181 accident near Howell, Michigan, June 24, 2023
On June 24, 2023 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA-28-181, registered N4008Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Howell, Michigan (Livingston County Spencer J Ha airport). It was a personal 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
A loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice that resulted from the pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat during the landing approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2023 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Howell, Michigan · Livingston County Spencer J Ha · 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 1977 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4008Q · no longer on the register · serial 28-7790468
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a local flight, while in the traffic pattern, the airplane’s engine power decreased to 900 rpm. He attempted to restore engine power but was unsuccessful and attempted to make a forced landing to the runway. He landed on the grass about 1,000 ft short of the runway surface, bounced, and impacted the localizer antenna. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel systems revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to a serious accumulation of carburetor ice at glide power. The pilot reported that he used carburetor heat while attempting to restore engine power, but not before he made his descent in the traffic pattern and the loss of engine power. Based on the available information, the loss of engine power was likely due to carburetor ice accumulation. Additionally, the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred significantly reduced the amount of time available to the pilot to troubleshoot and restore engine power before the forced landing.
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
- Landing area undershoot during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fuel related during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 328 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 10.2 in the last 90 days; 1.7 in the last 30 days; 241 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,335.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 24, 2023; 0.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360A4M (piston); 5,335 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 am from KOZW, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOZW 241435Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN013 BKN085 OVC110 22/20 A2996 RMK AO2 T02200197
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 9, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Carburetor Icing Probability Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Email from FAA Maintenance Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | 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.
Other NTSB records under N4008Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.