Piper PA-28-140 accident near Grant, Michigan, June 26, 2000
On June 26, 2000 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N98117, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grant, Michigan (Grant airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in a stall/mush condition. Factors associated with the accident were the trees and gusty wind conditions which resulted in turbulence on takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2000 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Grant, Michigan · Grant · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N98117 · no longer on the register · serial 28-26053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airstrip (runway 27) being used for takeoff was bordered by trees on the north and west sides and the winds were from 210 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots. The pilot stated there was turbulence on takeoff from the left quartering headwind. He reported that at an altitude of 150 to 200 feet above the ground, the right wing "dipped severely down (on knife edge)" and he corrected the attitude, but the airplane started to buffet. In order to avoid going into the wooded area, he banked the airplane to the left to fly over a corn field with a headwind; however, the airplane continued to descend. The pilot reported the airplane descended until it contacted the terrain in the corn field. He stated that just after touch down the nose gear contacted a "large rock" and the airplane spun around prior to coming to rest.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 313 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 235 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,174 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 1999; 243 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 01C at 3:15 pm
- Destination: H04 Rollo MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 2,517 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N98117 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.